The Lowell Student Police Academy is a summer leadership program run by the Lowell Police Department’s School Resource Officers. It is a free program open to incoming 5th through 8th graders who attend Lowell Schools. The program runs for 3 weeks during summer vacation from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
For questions regarding the Student Police Academy, please contact Off. Jose Santiago at jsantiago@lowellma.gov.
What to Expect
The Student Police Academy will teach student officers a wide variety of useful and important skills in a police academy style atmosphere. The following topics are covered during the 3-week program: CPR and first aid, bullying prevention, gang awareness and prevention, avoiding peer pressure, Internet safety, and the dangers of drugs and alcohol (including prescription drugs). Academy activities and homework assignments are designed to help Student Officers develop self esteem and self confidence, work within a team, and build leadership skills. The Academy also includes physical training and health classes, stressing the importance of an active lifestyle and nutritious diet in maintaining health. School Resource Officers and Youth Counselors (most of whom are high school students who graduated the Student Police Academy themselves) will act as positive role models and mentors for Student Officers.
Benefits
In the last 24 years, over 5,200 students have graduated from the Lowell Student Police Academy. These students have carried the confidence, discipline, and leadership skills they learned in the Academy over to their academic and extracurricular pursuits. They also feel more equipped to deal with peer pressure and bullying and are more comfortable interacting with authority figures such as police officers and teachers.