Most teens have never cut open a vehicle using the jaws of life or have seen a police K9 in action, although the 13 participants in this year’s Teen Safety Academy recently saw firsthand the inner workings of Federal Way’s police and fire departments.
The annual Teen Safety Academy, a partnership program between Federal Way Police Department and South King Fire and Rescue, is in its third year of creating positive interactions.
“There needs to be more opportunities … for kids to get to see officers in a different light and officers to get to see kids in a different light,” said Lindsey Sperry, crime analyst for the Federal Way Police Department.
Sperry spearheaded the academy for kids in 2016 after a presentation at a local high school proved students needed a more complete perspective of law enforcement officers and first responders in their own city, she said.