CORNWALL, N.Y.—Teens and preteens this summer got a taste of law enforcement, thanks to Law Enforcement Camp at Cornwall Baptist Church. The camp was open to 12- to 16-year-olds for five mornings. “We had a great time with the young people,” says Pastor Stephen Racite. Of the nine who attended, a local newspaper reported, half were considering careers in public service.
Pastor Racite operated the week with his brother, Patrolman Joseph C. Racite, and his dad, Retired Deputy Chief Joseph F. Racite. His dad and brother handled the police end of the program, along with the fire extinguisher training, and Pastor Racite (an American Red Cross Instructor) taught First Aid and CPR.
Though the camp introduced students to law enforcement, in an even greater way it gave them a proper perspective on discipline. Monday was firearms training day. The students learned the proper use of BB guns and the rules and regulations of gun safety as taught by the National Rifle Association.
Tuesday focused on firefighting. The group learned the proper manner in which to use a fire extinguisher and practiced putting out a mock fire. Highland Engine Company 1 sent a truck to the campus, and after a brief discussion answered questions and gave a tour of the vehicle.
The Sherriff’s department sent a German shepherd on Wednesday to talk about K9 units. After a discussion, he gave demonstrations and answered questions.
Thursday was crime scene investigation day. “We turned a room in the building into a mock crime scene, and Dad taught them how to secure a scene, search for evidence, and analyze what they found,” says Pastor Racite. Earlier in the week, the students had been fingerprinted, and each was given the opportunity to lift his or her own prints off a mug and then compare the two fingerprints. “Dad spent much of his career with the police department as a detective handling major crimes,” Pastor Racite says. “Dad is a fingerprint expert.”
Friday the group got a brief lesson on defensive tactics. They watched as the retired deputy chief demonstrated on his son, but, Pastor Racite says, laughing, the students weren’t allowed to practice on each other.
Each day, the students also spent time marching and going through drills, learning flag etiquette, and training in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR, for which they received a certificate of completion.
Cornwall Baptist Church is planning to hold the camp again next year, although the program will probably extend from a half day to a three-quarter day to fit in even more activities.
