Behind the Badge
The Anaheim Police Activities League Junior Cadet program continues to grow, as was evident during recent boot camps held for Junior Cadets at three levels: beginning, advanced and seniors.
Nearly 670 kids participated in the boot camp for beginners and advanced cadets on Saturday, June 4, at Betsy Ross Elementary School.
The senior Junior Cadet Academy was held Saturday, May 21, at Irvine Regional Park.
Officers Patrick Bradley, left, and his twin brother Matthew Bradley of the Anaheim Police Mounted Unit give a demonstration during the 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Junior Cadet program offers educational and physical activities for youth ages 9 through 12 while emphasizing respect, responsibility and self-discipline.
The kids who participated in the annual boot camps will attend three academies this year, said Officer Lorenzo Taylor of the C4K detail in the APD’s Community Services Division.
“There’s no better opportunity than to mentor our youth and help create good leaders for the future,” Taylor said.
At the boot camps, the younger Junior Cadets went through an obstacle course and watched presentations from the APD’s K9, Motors, SWAT and helicopter teams.
The mission of the Junior Cadet program is to foster positive relationships between police and youth, assist in developing positive self-esteem by providing skills to help youth strive to do better in school and stay away from gangs and drugs, and provide an opportunity for police, parents, schools and community members to make a personal commitment to serve Anaheim’s youth.
Respect Given is Respect Earned reads the shirts of the kids at the Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy as they gather around the APD’s Angel helicopter that landed at Betsy Ross Elementary School.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Classroom topics include legal awareness, drug and gang awareness, leadership and team-building activities and homework assistance. The program includes physical fitness and military drills to improve self-confidence, eating habits, self-esteem, leadership and respect.
Behind the Badge OC Photographer Steven Georges attended both boot camps.
The kids in the blue shirts are beginning Junior Cadets. Advanced cadets are wearing red T-shirts, while those wearing black shirts are senior Junior Cadets.
Anaheim PD pilots Josh Blackburn and Dietrich Miessner, right, talk to kids attending the Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
APD helicopter pilots take questions from the kids.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Pilot Dietrich Miessner talks to kids attending the Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy after landing the Angel APD helicopter at Betsy Ross Elementary.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Ed Arevalo with cadets during the 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Officer Ed Arevalo gives a cadet a fist bump during the 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Kids from the Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy walk up to hear the pilots from the APD’s Angel helicopter that just landed at Betsy Ross Elementary.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy, advanced class, at Betsy Ross Elementary.
Light blue shirts in back row are Explorers.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy senior class.
Light blue shirts in back row are Explorers.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Anaheim PD’s Senior Jr. Cadet Academy class.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet beginning Academy class.
Light blue shirts in back row are Explorers.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 2016 Anaheim PD Cops 4 Kids Jr. Cadet Academy, advanced class, at Betsy Ross Elementary.
Light blue shirts in back row are Explorers.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Anaheim PD Senior Jr. Cadet Academy.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
