Eighteen young men and women had the opportunity to learn about law enforcement from the inside through the second Fall River Police Department Teen Police Academy. Run by Durfee High Schol Resource Officers Mike Pereira and Kelly Furtado with help from Durfee security officer Lisa LaFleur, the Academy taught tactics used by police in both a classroom setting and on the street. Running over an eight week period, students learned other skills that can help them, such as the problems associated with using on-line services such as MySpace that can be exploited by child predators. The program also included a chance to take practice shots at the police firing range and the opportunity to go out with officers in police vehicles. Each participant receives a blue polo shirt embroidered with the acadamy's logo. To see pictures of last year's academy, click here. For more information about the academy, contact Sgt. Clifford Wright.
 

(Top row, left) Officer Mike Pereira prepares the group for the ride-along experience in which students will travel in police vehicles throughout the community. (Top row, center) Front row: Sarah Pietruszka, Doug Minville, Matt Moser. Middle row: Brendan McNerney, Iris Quinones, Samantha Costa, Sara Perreira, Jillian Medeiros, Jessica Correia, Danielle Aguiar, Kandys Corbishley, Kayla Anccil. Back row: Juan Guadalupe, Zak Day, Ryan Galford, James Parsons. (Top row, right) Sgt. Clifford Wright greets Zack Day in front of the police station. (Middle row, left) Officer Perreira leads Doug Minville, Samantha Costa, Sarah Pietruszka, Juan Guadalupe, Brendan McNerney and Sara Perreira out to the parking lot to select a vehicle. (Middle row, center) Iris Quinones and Juan Guadalupe sit in class. (Middle row, right) Sarah Perreira, Juan Guadalupe and Brendan McNerney get in their vehicle. (Bottom row, left) Samantha Costa and Jillian Medeiros get into their vehicle. (Bottom row, center) Sara Perreira, Brendan McNerney and Juan Guadalupe share the back seat. (Bottom row, right) Officer Kelly Furtado prepares to leave.