Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe (WBZ NewsRadio)
NORWOOD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A popular summer camp in Norwood that brings police and kids together found ways to keep cool during the blazing heat Friday.
Kids at the Norwood Police Youth Academy at Norwood High School took turns dunking each other in a dunk tank, playing on a Slip 'n Slide, and eating snow cones.
The camp's goal is for kids to get to know the police officers in their town and learn what a day in the life of a cop is like for multiple law enforcement departments.
"The state police land a helicopter on the lawn," Norwood Police Chief Bill Brooks told WBZ NewsRadio. "Metro SWAT come here with their BearCat and explain how SWAT operates. They give them a ride around the school, so they can actually ride in the armored vehicle. Chemists come out from the state police crime lab and talk to the kids. Then we set up more crime scenes around the high school and they have to go examine the scene, come up with a theory of what occurred, actually collect evidence."
Other activities included a defensive tactics presentation, a tour of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and a visit from the Norwood Police Department's therapy dog, Mustang Sally.
"Meeting all the cops and just bonding with them, it’s really fun," said Ava, 13. "All the stuff we get to do, like going to the jail, that was a lot of fun."
Fellow 13-year-old Bridget said she has a new perception of police officers after attending the camp.
"I always knew they were nice, but now I have a better connection with them, and now I can just talk to them whenever I want," Bridget said.
WBZ's Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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