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SANDY — "Yes, sir!"
The resounding response from 47 students has echoed in hallways of Eastmont Middle School throughout the week as part of the Utah Explorer Police Academy.
The classrooms of Eastmont have temporarily been transformed into barracks that house multiple sleeping bags and the neatly placed belongings of students participating in the academy — a weeklong military-type boot camp for youths ages 14 to 20 who are considering careers in law enforcement or military services.
"When we first started out, everyone was stressed out," said Kenzee McPherron, 16, of Sandy. "The first few days were the hardest for us. It's been really good so far, but it has been tough."
Most of this year's participants, who are called "explorers," are from Salt Lake City and Sandy, which originally caused a social rift at the beginning of the week, according to Salt Lake police detective Cody Lougy, who helped run the event. However, as the students struggled through physical training and other activities, the rivalry faded and they grew closer as squads.
"That's what we are trying to do — build teamwork," Lougy said. "We break them down so we can build them back up."
While the academy is very rigorous and often serious, explorers also find ways to enjoy the week's events by being proud of their many accomplishments — such as the bruises on their arms, which they merited by being chased and taken down by a police dog while they were wearing a bite suit.
As for personal reasons to take part in the mentally rigorous and physically exhausting week, most of the explorers share the common bond of wanting to serve their community through law enforcement in the future.
I realized how much responsibility comes with law enforcement and figured it was better than sitting back in office desks and writing papers, when I could be out doing something useful.
–Alyssa Snyder, 16
"I realized how much responsibility comes with law enforcement and figured it was better than sitting back in office desks and writing papers, when I could be out doing something useful," said Alyssa Snyder, 16, of Bluffdale, who has wanted to be in law enforcement since second grade.
Several students have participated in programs similar to the Utah Explorer Police Academy in past years and are much closer to beginning their careers in this field.
"It is really important to get a head start before going to the real-life academy, before you turn 21," said Alejandro Loya, 19, of West Jordan.
Skills and knowledge the students have gained includes learning how to handle various weapons, baton training, traffic stops, and an active-shooter simulation, which students trained for Wednesday.
"The active shooting will have 40 actors from haunted houses in stage makeup. There will be fog, and the fire alarm will be going off," said Lougy, adding that students would be shot at with airsoft guns as they search the school for the shooter.
Students prepared for the active-shooter simulation Wednesday by running through scenarios in the halls with the lights on and no immanent threat under the guidance of their instructors.
"You don't want a 'T.' You want a 'Y' so you can cover all angles," critiqued Salt Lake police detective Jason LeGore about the shape teams of students were taking as they rounded corners of the halls.
On Thursday, the day of the simulation, the students nervously stood at attention while officers and volunteers were prepped to become victims of a school shooting scenario.
Chris Samuels/Deseret News
The length and type of the scenarios increased in difficulty as the evening progressed. The first involved apprehending a crazed parent who fired shots in the main office.
"You all are going to die," an officer acting as the shooter yelled before firing a round of shots from an airsoft gun at the floor. After apprehending the shooter, students had to carry out multiple victims from the scene.
"I can't feel my leg," yelled a victim as the students carried him out to receive medical attention.
After their first round, both Loya and Snyder said there were many things they could improve, mostly communication in their squad, for the remainder of the night.
"In reality, you are not going to be excited about finding suspects who are bleeding, so I'm still nervous," Loya said. "But at the same time, there is the adrenaline."
The law enforcement program, hosted by the Salt Lake and Sandy police departments, will conclude Saturday with a graduation ceremony.
Cassidy Hansen is currently studying both Political Science and Communications at Brigham Young University, while working as an intern at the Deseret News. Contact her at chansen@deseretnews.com
