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Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy inspires young kids

Amanda Ferguson # State
 police_program

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy teaches about 30 kids, in grades 5 through 12, about law enforcement.

"It's a whole bunch of kids our age and we're all learning together with the police department, seeing what they do and how they figure it out, and these processes that I never knew about, and how much work it takes, but how cool it is,"
Oak Ridge High School freshman Tori Scott said.

Scott is one of about 30 kids in the Oak Ridge Junior Police Academy at Oak Ridge High School.

"I've seen a lot of things on TV and other people doing it, and I think it's really cool,"
Scott said.
"I was wondering how they did that, and in this program I can learn all of these things."

Scott and her classmates learn the ins and outs of the force. Officer Barry Bunch said the program goes much deeper.

"Really what it's about to is a relationship with the kids,"
Officer Bunch said.
"As you can see talking to them, we're making and building that friendship of trust."

Officer Bunch hopes these kids learn officers are people first, so they can come to them with anything at any time.

"Our relationship with them is amazing because they really want to teach us and they want us to know what they do,"
Scott said.

Scott said she's inspired by learning from the best in blue. With Eve Thomas' appointment as Knoxville Police Chief, Scott said has a new goal.

"I think that maybe I can do that someday,"
Scott said.

The class graduated on Friday, and the next session begins Monday, June 25.

You can find out more events the Oak Ridge Police Department puts on by clicking here.