By Staff
YPA class expresses thanks
Below is a list of all the folks that helped with Youth Police Academy - Class Six. As you can see, we had lots of people to help us out in many different ways. We could not have done it without all the help - both financially and functionally. Of the twenty-two kids that participated this year, eleven received either a partial (usually $100) or full ($175) scholarship. Notice that we had fifty-three (53) instructors. Those fifty-three instructors were from at least twenty-two different agencies.  This was truly a joint effort to help our children and although the list is lengthy, I hope that you will print it!
Chuck McMullen and I started this academy (with the support of Dr. Susan McBride, Sheriff Tim Hawsey, and Chief David Lovelace) six years ago. Our goal was to provide a positive role model to children and an opportunity to see that law enforcement officers are people, too. We wanted those children who had a genuine interest in law enforcement to see what it is really all about - not just what is shown on TV.
A small child is really hurt when a parent sees a law enforcement officer and tells the child &#8220That officer is going to get you!” Parents should be teaching their children that a law enforcement officer is the child's friend - that's who the child needs to go to for help!
In the academy the kids learn that a law enforcement officer's job is (as the motto says) to protect and to serve. Although they go on the firing range, they are taught that weapons of any kind are always a last resort. They get a chance to interact with law enforcement officers and see them for who they are-fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, brothers, and sisters-just people trying to help other people and keep them safe.
We teach team work in the academy. They run as individuals the same obstacle course that anyone runs in order to be accepted into the &#8220real” police academy. Then they run as a team. I think that it is interesting to note that the team that had the best time this year was the team with our &#8220special” recruit. They worked together to insure that all team members were able to cross the barriers and other obstacles and that no one was left behind.
We also had two members of YPA - Class No. 6 who will not be returning. Meagan Cutts has been to all the academies. She is 17 and so will be too old next year.  Kevin Blackburn has been to all but one academy. He, too, is 17 and will not be able to return. However, we hope that they will come back as assistants.
We have several former academy graduates who are currently in college. At least two that I know of are majoring in Criminal Justice.  I think that all of our former recruits will tell you that they learned teamwork as well as leadership skills in the academy even if they choose not to pursue a career in law enforcement.
We would like to say thank you to all who helped make Youth Police Academy - Class Six successful.
Clair Sanborn, Director,
YPA # 6
Donations and Discounts: Woodmen of the World,Tri-City Rotary Club,Brewton Rotary Club, NDI, Beth Phillips, Merrill Ledford, Brewton Kiwanis, Jefferson Davis Community College, Rodney Phillips, Burger King (Brewton), Steve White (B&W Auto Parts), Marcus Gulley (Pepsi of Mobile), Airgas (Chad Chaudron), Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, Jus Do, Jim Peach Motors (Chip Peach), T.W. Jackson, David's Catfish (Brewton), R.J.'s Barbeque Diner, Atmore Fire Department, Karen Shell, Monte and Melanie McGougin, Cooper Towing, Dogwood Hills, Pepsi (Atmore)
Discounts: Pizza Pro, Bakies Bakery, Brewton Screen Printing
Prepared Meals: Zeke Cutts, Carla Bowman, Liz Knowles, Lee Shaughnessy, Janie Hamric, Stephanie Burke
Instructors: (* Stayed all day and night) (## Took Their Vacation Time in order to help.) *Agent Heath Jackson, (APD) 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, *Rhonda Ray, Escambia Co., FL, S.O., *Samantha Bennett, Atmore PD,
*Beverly Foster, *## Matthew Foster, University of Alabama Police Dept., *## Lt. Chuck McMullen, FL Attorney General's Office, *##Trooper Ed. Bennett, Alabama State Troopers, *Clair Sanborn, JDCC and Brewton PD, *Phillip Jackson, Brewton PD, *Sgt. Jeff Beasley, (ECSO) 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, *Chief Mike Lambert, Flomaton PD\, *Alva Carlson, Brewton PD, Sgt. John Peavy, Brewton PD, Geoffrey McGraw, Brewton PD, Sgt. Jason Yoder and K-9 Tracker, Brewton PD, Matt Jernigan, Brewton PD, Chief Monte McGougin, Brewton PD, Isaac Lopez, Flomaton PD and Brewton PD, Lt. Mike Jackson, Alabama Dept of Corrections (DOC), Sgt. Deon Wasdin, DOC, Sgt. Joseph Anderson DOC, Katrina Warren, Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences, Mary Burns (ADFS), John Liptak (ADFS), Donna Gibbons (ADFS), Nathan Nguyen (ADFS), Agent Chris Inabinett-Alabama Beverage Control, Jerry Caylor, Escambia County Drug Court, Lee Shaughnessy, E-911, Janie Hamric, E-911, Lt. Feast Broughton, Brewton PD, Jimmy Espositio, US Customs, Paul Horil, US Customs, Rich Webb, US Customs, John Gambold, US Customs, Pat Poole, Conecuh Co SO, Ben Roe, Alabama State Troopers, Justin Williams, Alabama State Troopers, Adam Teichner and K-9 Kai, Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office, Chris Turcic and K-9 Gero, Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office, Capt. Gerald McGough, Alabama Department of Agriculture, Brad Guy, North Star Ambulance Service, Tronie Richards, D.W. McMillan Ambulance Servic, Glenn Faircloth, D.W. McMillan Ambulance Service, Sammie, Smith, Escambia County Rescue Squad (ECRS), Justin Cole, ECRS, Wayne Martin, ECRS, Chuck Wiggins, ECRS, Chris Smith, ECRS, Tom Greer, Escambia County, FL, Sheriff's Office SWAT, Mike Ward, Escambia County, FL, Sheriff's Office SWAT, Mark Jackson, Escambia County, FL, Sheriff's Office SWAT, Tom Kelly, Escambia County, FL, Sheriff's Office SWAT.