Edinburg PD graduates 18 from first ever teen academy

EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A graduation ceremony was held for the inaugural members of the Edinburg Police Department Teen Academy.

The Edinburg Teen Police Academy is a new initiative by the Edinburg Police Department aimed at creating a positive relationship with the city's youth.

The program allows students to encourage their interests in law enforcement careers through a week-long program.

During the program students engaged in hands-on activities and learned about core police functions, special operations and crime scene investigations.

Asley Trevino, a participant in the program said her favorite part of the training was when she got to practice a traffic stop.

"It made me more aware of what police officers do and what I would do out in the field as a police officer," Trevino said.

The teen says she plans to one day join the Edinburg Police Department after graduating college.

The graduation ceremony took place at the CPL Derek Hernandez Police Training Facility in Edinburg.

"It is a focus for us to continue to develop relationships to continue to engage the community so that they trust us, so that they understand who we are, what we do, why we do it," said a police officer with Edinburg PD.

The police department graduated 18 students Friday.