Behind the Badge
Editor’s note: We published in August a story about the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s first teen academy, a week-long program whose goal is to show and tell teenagers from ages 13 to 18 the details of working in the various departments at OCSD so that they feel comfortable around law enforcement and perhaps even develop some career aspirations within the agency.
Behind the Badge photographer Steven Georges caught up with the teens at another event. Here are his pictures.
T. Maxwell of the OCSD Tactical Training Center gives a few tips to Curtis Parker during a police chase driving simulation.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Commander Bob Peterson gets a hug from one of the Youth Citizens’ Academy graduates after admitting that she now has a new respect for law enforcement officers after going through the program.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Graduates of the Youth Citizens’ Academy gather for a group photo with Sheriff Sandra Hutchens at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Maggie Lin tries her hand at the police driving simulator at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Zoey Lynd, 14, of Lake Forest at a police chase driving simulator at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Makeyla Marquez, 15, of Mission Viejo aims a handgun at the screen during a shooting simulation at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Zoey Lynd, 14, of Lake Forest, yells at the suspect on the screen to put his hands up during a shooting simulation at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center. Not all situations end up in a shooting and the simulator operator can even change the outcome depending on how an “officer” is handling the situation.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sgt. Richard Nelson of the OC Sheriff’s Department instructs a group of kids from the Youth Citizens’ Academy before giving them their turn with the shoot or don’t shoot simulator at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sgt. Richard Nelson of the OC Sheriff’s Department instructs a group of kids from the Youth Citizens’ Academy on the proper way to hold a handgun before giving them their turn with the shooting simulator at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sgt. Richard Nelson of the OC Sheriff’s Department takes a group of kids from the Youth Citizens’ Academy on a tour of the OCSD’s Laser Village used for training exercises.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD’s School Resource Deputy Heather Timmins addresses the first Youth Citizens’ Academy before their graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Commander Bob Peterson says a few words to the OCSD’s first Youth Citizens’ Academy during their graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens addresses the graduating class of the first Youth Citizens’ Academy at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Zoey Lynd, 14, of Lake Forest, is the first of three students from the OC Sheriff’s first Youth Citizens’ Academy to address the class during their graduation ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Kids from the Youth Citizens’ Academy take a tour of the OCSD’s Laser Village at the Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Graduates of the Youth Citizens’ Academy gather for a group photo at Orange County Sheriff’s Training Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
