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June 28, 2008

Teens get chance to work with police, fire departments

By Patrick McCreless

Hanceville teenagers interested in one day working as a firefighter or police officer will soon have the opportunity to give those jobs a try.

“Basically, it’s like they can try it out before they buy it,” said Hanceville Public Safety Director John Duchock.

For months, Duchock and others worked to establish an Explorer Program in Hanceville.

“We’ve already got the paperwork done, we just have to get the people signed up,” Duchock said.

Through the program, which is sponsored by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, individuals between 15 and 20 years old can learn and train with the city’s fire and police departments.

“It’s kind of like a mentoring program,” Duchock said. “It’s more like advanced level Boy Scouts.”

Duchock said teenagers who sign up for the program will receive valuable on-the-job training, which they can use to obtain jobs in law enforcement or firefighting later in life.

Those who sign up to work with the police department will help with office work and participate in mock training sessions, including mock traffic stops and burglary calls. Teenagers who decide to try their hand at firefighting will get to participate in firefighter training and learn how to use department equipment.

Duchock noted that participants in the program would not be placed in any dangerous situations.

In addition to the training, Duchock said the program would help keep kids out of trouble.

“It’ll help keep them off the street,” he said.

Duchock added the program would benefit not just local teenagers, but the city’s fire and police departments as well.

“It’s also a great recruiting tool ... we can get future police and fire department personnel,” Duchock said.

To Duchock, the program is all about strengthening the city as a whole.

“We’re trying to build a bridge between government and the community,” Duchock said.

The program kickoff will coincide with the beginning of the upcoming school year. To sign up for the program, visit either the Hanceville Police Department or the Hanceville Volunteer Fire Department.

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