Students with their completion certificates.
Officers interacting with students during their TAPS programme.
PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Academy PSVE students completed an eleven-week programme organised by the Police Force KPSM in cooperation with the school.
The Teens and Police Service Academy (TAPS) programme was headed by Community Police Officer Joe Josepha, with assistance from various other police officers. The students received their completion certificates at the school campus in Ebenezer on Thursday, January 17.
The programme started in October last year, with the goal to help bridge the gap between KPSM officers and at-risk youth on the island. “It provided a better understanding of what it means to be a police officer through scenarios and specific topic areas associated with children and youth safety,” stated police on Wednesday.
Among some of the topics discussed with the students were conflict resolution, what to do when stopped by a police officer, drug use and sales, what happens when caught stealing, school fights, how to conduct oneself on social media, and loitering. Each theory was followed up by a practical scenario.
The students were given the opportunity to play the role of an officer at the scene of a crime, while an officer took on the role of the suspect. At the end of the programme, each student was given a chance to express his or her initial feeling about becoming an officer, versus how he/she felt after completing the programme.
After doing the role-reversal scenarios, the students now understand that being an officer is not as easy as it may appear to be, and it takes a lot of discipline.
The programme was deemed a success and will be followed up with a Cops and Kids programme aimed towards the primary school-level pupils. This programme will begin in February with the participation of five different primary schools.
The police thanked St. Maarten Academy PSVE students and teachers, as well as all officers who took the time out to ensure the 2018-2019 TAPS programme was a success.
