The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Springs Police Department have wrapped up their 2025 Teen Academy, an initiative aimed at giving local youths a close-up view of police work. The Academy, hosted at Vista Ridge High School, unfolded over two sessions from June 2–5 and June 9–12, engaging a hundred area students in activities that ranged from learning about SWAT operations to drone control.
Open to teens between the ages of 13 and 18 who live in El Paso County and are set to enter or have just graduated from high school, the program included dynamic workshops featuring K-9 units, mounted law enforcement, and crime lab processes. Sheriff Joseph Roybal commented on the program’s benefits, saying, "Our Teen Academy helps students gain a deeper understanding of the complex, highly detailed work done by local law enforcement," as obtained by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. "By allowing them to participate in realistic scenarios and observe specialized units, we hope to inspire future leaders and build lasting trust between youth and our agencies," he added.
Not only were participants of the Teen Academy able to engage with law enforcement firsthand, but they also had a chance to earn collegiate credit. Those opting in could snag three credit hours through Pikes Peak State College by taking on an additional 12 hours of learning. This academic bonus was favored by the majority of the Academy’s attendees.
Additionally, at the culmination of each week-long session, a single student walked away with a $500 scholarship. Eligibility for the financial award required submission of an essay reflecting on their experience with the academy, and the Sheriff’s Office reported that two essays outperformed all others. The scholarships add to the program’s focus on strengthening the rapport between young residents and law enforcement, particularly through the School Resource Officers who serve in various local school districts.
