Boys & Girls Clubs’ Junior Police Academy graduates 21 children A total of 21 members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad graduated from the Junior Police Academy on April 2. Geared for kids between the ages of 9 and 16, classes were designed in conjunction with the Carlsbad Police Department. “When Club members donned their Junior Police Academy T-shirts, their demeanor changed,” said Club Coordinator Anna Deluna. “The kids knew that by putting on that ‘uniform,’ they were to act with respect, honor, and dignity.” Junior Police Academy members attended six weekly lessons. Classroom topics included crime prevention, communicating with police officers, finger printing, an introduction to the Explorer program, social media precautions, and the K9 patrol. They also featured various guest speakers who gave insight as to the variety of services the police provides to the Carlsbad community. “I learned that police officers spend most of their time protecting citizens,” said 11 year old Dylan. “It was a great experience, and taught me about leadership and the importance of safety.”