Scouts get chance to learn about police work firsthand

DEXTER — There’s a lot more to police work than writing tickets and investigating crime scenes, local Explorer Scouts learned this weekend at a three-day police academy in Dexter.

According to Officer Alan Grinnell of the Dexter Police Department and adviser to Post 357, eight young men who have aspirations of becoming police officers attended the three-day session which was modeled after the program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Waterville.

Successful completion of this weekend’s program and a CPR training course will allow these youths to participate in the state’s ride-along program where the scouts will be able to ride in police cruisers during designated shifts on non-school nights.

Law enforcement representation at the academy this weekend included the Maine State Police, the Dexter and Dover-Foxcroft police departments and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The weekend academy included self-defense training and classes on traffic control, evidence collection, patrol procedures, crime scene processing, drug identification, operating while under the influence of intoxicating liquor detection and processing, arrests and first aid.

During the Saturday morning session, two people entered the Dexter Ambulance Building where the classes were being taught to ask directions while a class was going on. As soon as the pair left, the Scouts were asked to give as many details as they could on the appearance of the two.

Scout leaders, who had set up the “visit” by the pair beforehand, were prepared; the Scouts, however, were not. Nevertheless, Grinnell said, his cadets were on their toes and a few were able to remember such details as whether the two were wearing any rings.

Along with involvement in the program, Scouts also were responsible for various duties at their academy such as morning and evening clean-up details. Also during the day, spot quizzes on the police 10-code were given. Cadets were schooled in the correct responses to commands given by officers and each took turns as class leader.

All activities, including lunch, were led according to military rules, with cadets not even allowed to rest their elbows on the table during meals.

According to Grinnell, the mini-academy was an excellent way for the Scouts to learn if they would like to pursue a career in law enforcement. The weekend session helped build up participants’ self-esteem, he said, and showed them the value of being able to take orders, a valuable skill for people considering law enforcement as a profession.