The Rice University Police Department wrapped up another successful Law Enforcement Youth Academy July 27–31, welcoming 20 local students to campus for a week of hands-on learning and positive engagement with law enforcement.
Now in its fifth year, the free program was created in 2022 to foster positive relationships between young people and police officers while giving participants an inside look at careers in law enforcement. Throughout the week, students ages 13–17 explored a variety of public safety specialties through interactive activities, including simulated shooting scenarios, fingerprinting, drone demonstrations and impaired-driving exercises. They also heard from guest speakers representing the FBI, the Houston Police Department SWAT team and other specialized law enforcement units.
“One of the main things is a positive interaction with police,” said Lt. Frank Fernandez with RUPD. “Hopefully it’s their first experience with the police, and we want that first experience to be a positive one. We want to give them an opportunity to see what police are like normally — not something you see in the news or some kind of false narrative. It’s a behind-the-scenes look and hands-on experience for what a campus police officer does.”
The academy intentionally remains free for participants to ensure accessibility for Rice employee families. Enrollment is capped at 20 students each year, and the program regularly fills up with a waiting list.
By the end of the week, organizers said the transformation among participants was evident.
“By Friday, they’re chit-chatting, they’re loud — we actually have to tell them to quiet down sometimes,” Fernandez said. “They really bond during that week. The difference between Monday and Friday is huge.”
The week concluded with a graduation ceremony where students received certificates and medals alongside their families. Participants were also encouraged to stay involved with RUPD through volunteer opportunities at events such as National Night Out and other community outreach initiatives.