Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Hosts Youth Police Academy

Kids are learning what it takes to be a police officer this spring break at the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Academy.

The kids said it’s given them a new respect for law enforcement, and some of them hope to one day become officers themselves.

Elias Smith is one of the cadets at the camp and said he’s learned a lot from officers.

"The things that drugs can do to you, marching, stuff like that," said Smith. "And what policeman carry, stuff."

Smith said he enjoys listening to how the officers go about their jobs each day and what their training was like.

"I realized how they approach things and what they do to even get into this program and everything, and it's really cool to me," said Smith.

Officers taught the cadets how to march, showed them all the tools they carry, and about the techniques they use.

They said perhaps the most important lesson these kids are learning is they can trust police.

"I want them to be able to come to me in a situation where they're feeling bad or something's not right," said Daniel Wind, the Deputy Chief of Special Operations for the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police. "If nothing else, that's what I hope, that they know they can trust us."

Since the U.S Supreme Court ruling on tribal jurisdiction, there has been a greater need for tribal police officers.

They hope the kids will learn about tribal culture in addition to policing.

"I hope they leave with inspiration to understand the history and the culture of the Muscogee Creek people and understand why we need them on the police force," said Monte Randall, the President of the College of the Muscogee Nation.

Smith said he is grateful for the chance to learn about policing when he’s young.

"Some of these adults who are actually doing this have never got this opportunity, so that just makes it more likely for me to become a Lighthorse policeman," said Smith.

The cadets will be learning all week and will graduate on Saturday.

Organizers said this is the first Youth Police Academy and they plan to keep on holding them.