The law class met with Tyler Police Department officer James McCraw on Tuesday to talk about the Tyler P.D. cadet program. Along with McCraw were LHS alumni Cyrus Barron and Trinity Boaz who took part in the program. 

“The cadet program is a Tyler Police Department program,” Barron said. “It helps train people from freshman year of high school to college students in policing.”

Over the years, many young adults have taken part in this program. They start it in their high school years and can continue until their college years. 

“I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been in the program since my sophomore year of high school, and I’m now in my third semester of college,” Barron said. “I’ve learned that you need to be patient, you need to be level-headed, and aware of your surroundings. Know your laws and study. Overall, you need to be a calm, collected person.”

The cadet program is also intended to help future officers adjust to their profession and to develop themselves. 

“It lets you get a hold on what kind of things you would see if you were to become a police officer and it helps you become familiar with some of the laws,” Barron said. “You also build a rapport with Tyler P.D. and you get access to ride-alongs, which let you go out onto the street and see what it’s like and see if you actually want to do it.”

The program can  be used to determine if a career in law enforcement is truly what a person want to do. 

“I heard about it in my sophomore year,” Barron said. “Mrs. Ridge had Officer McCraw come in. I kind of knew I wanted to be a police officer, but I wasn’t sure. I joined the program and attended a few meetings, and just fell in love with it.” 

This program mainly assists in a real-world capacity to learn how jobs in law enforcement really work.

“I believe the program will help you a lot,” Barron said. “Especially if you wanna work local, here in Tyler, but even if you don’t, the added training will help you in the academy and it will help you anywhere else.”