Littleton Police

Littleton Police Department
Matthew J. Pinard, Chief of Police
500 Great Road,
Littleton, MA 01460

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Littleton Police Department Youth Academy Gives Kids Real World Look at Officer Training

LITTLETON — Chief Matthew J. Pinard is pleased to announce that the Littleton Police Department hosted its annual Student Police Academy last week.

The Student Police Academy is a week-long program for kids in grades six through eight, featuring an in-depth and interactive look at the roles and responsibilities of police officers.

Cadet Field and Cadet Sundberg practice CPR as part of the Littleton Police Youth Academy. (Courtesy Photo)

Firefighter Jason Cox and Cadet Savannah Marcano during the Youth Academy’s session with the Littleton Fire Department. (Courtesy Photo)

Cadet Aiden Parker and Cadet Nolan Pace check one another’s pulse. (Courtesy Photo)

Cadet Evan Montgomery took part in a demonstration by the NEMLEC SWAT Team during last week’s academy. (Courtesy Photo)

Officer Jesse Bowen works with Cadet Aiden Parker during a training exercise on driving under the influence. Without distorted vision goggles and then with distorted vision goggles. (Courtesy Photo)

Cadet Emma Cvitcovich participates in a defensive tactics drill with Drill Instructor Jesse Bowen during the Littleton Police Department’s Youth Academy. (Courtesy Photo)

Littleton’s academy, which graduated its seventh class on July 13, includes an extensive set of demonstrations and lessons from all corners of law enforcement and public safety.

Detective John Janakos oversaw this year’s academy, along with Reserve Officer Ashley Pinard, and led junior cadets through lessons on traffic and criminal laws, crime scene processing, investigative tactics and special operations.

The academy also mimicked the physical rigor of a true police academy, with Detective Patrick O’Donoghue and Officer Jesse Bowen serving as drill instructors for their respective platoons.

The two platoons of six cadets each visited with the Littleton Fire Department, where they learned about the tasks firefighters are charged with every day. Cadets also observed demonstrations by the Northeast Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council’s SWAT team and the NEMLEC Motor Unit. The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing made a special visit, landing on the field behind Littleton Police headquarters.

“Just about every member of our department played a role in giving our junior cadets a great experience last week, and I’m extremely proud of their work to continue supporting this program,” Chief Pinard said. “Our youth academy lets kids participate in everything that real police officers experience at a six-month academy in just five days.”

The academy was launched in 2012 by Chief Matthew Pinard, who was a Sergeant at the time, and Detective Sgt. Pablo Fernandez.

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