UthMpact Leadership "Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Day" Recap

Polk County high school students have been nominated by their school principals to participate in an exciting new UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, and key community leaders, to help teens develop crucial leadership skills. The Leadership Program agenda includes 6 days from September 2011 through March 2012, on which the 30 participating youth leaders representing 11 different Polk County high schools will travel throughout the county to experience the inner workings of local government, health care, education, and law enforcement. The teens will meet with community leaders, discuss challenges, and recommend solutions for issues that face us now and in the future.

The second UthMpact Leadership Day was held on October 26, 2011 as the students were treated to a unique behind the scenes look at the inner workings of our city and county’s law enforcement and emergency services operations.

Two of the teen representatives who participated in UthMpact Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Leadership Day, Taylor Jones, a junior at Lake Gibson High School; and Jessica Emerson, a senior at Lake Gibson High School; shared the highlights of their action-filled day as follows:

Twenty-eight of us participated in UthMpact Leadership’s Law Enforcement & Emergency Services Day, where we were able to experience some of the activities performed by local police, sheriff’s office, and safety professionals who serve and protect our community.
First, we toured the Telecommunications area and Forensics Lab at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Winter Haven. This was one of the highlights of our day because we were able to test finger printing equipment and view some actual crime scenes. From there, it was on to the Lakeland Police Department where we visited different service units in the building, along with the book-in area. One of the highlights of our time spent at LPD was an awesome demonstration from the K-9 and SWAT units.

Our next stop was at the Polk Central County Jail in Bartow for lunch and a tour of a jail pod unit. We visited the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Training Center and shooting range where local law enforcement train to use various weapons. Then we met at the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office and saw the rooms used for autopsies and body storage. Touring the morgue and jail facilities had a big impact on our group...the reality of it made us all realize where we don’t want to end up! Winter Haven Fire Department was the last stop to learn about the various components of the fire truck. In all, it was quite interesting to learn about all of the aspects of our county’s law enforcement and emergency services departments!

Other theme days for future months include: Volunteer Leadership Day (November 30); Education Leadership Day (January 25); Government Leadership Day (February 22); Business Leadership Day (March 28); and Leadership Graduation (April 25th). At the end of each Leadership Day, the UthMpact teens gather for a General Meeting, beginning at 5:30 pm, at the Sheriff’s Office, located at 1819 Jim Keene Blvd., in Winter Haven. The meeting is open to any middle or high school student who may be interested in attending.