Last Friday, when three students from the Liberty County Career Academy job shadowed with three officers from the Hinesville Police Department, they learned from the best. The students got a chance to ride along with the officers, and one even witnessed an arrest.

Student Janexxi Peres was riding patrol with Star Corporal Josh Heath when she witnessed someone get arrested.

“We stopped him for not having a seatbelt and he ended up having a suspended license and had a warrant for his arrest,” Perez said.

For safety reasons, another unit picked him up, and Perez and Heath came back to the HPD to assist in writing citations.  

After lunch they went over the basics of policing and Georgia law. The participants also learned about probable clause, officer safety, and went on a tour of the police department. Towards the end of the day the participants went and assisted a battered woman with providing outreach resources and how to obtain a warrant.

“In a continuous effort to not only educate the community, we participate in job shadowing to educate the youth as well,” said Star Corporal Remillard. “During the job shadowing, the participants learned the importance of community support and knowing that we at the HPD derive our strength from our citizens and community ties.”

The job shadowing program with the LCCA began 4 years ago. This year they had 18 students placed out in the community for job shadowing.

“It gives the kids an opportunity to get a first-hand experience on the jobs they are interested in,” said Business Community Coordinator Connie Bragg. “All of the kids said it was very awesome especially one who visited the police department.”