The St. Louis County Police Department will sponsor a Teen Academy at Bernard Middle School, 1054 Forder Road.

The academy will meet from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, beginning March 5. A graduation ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. April 30.

The Teen Academy will consist of eight sessions in which teens will participate in very realistic role plays, taking on the role of the police officer, according to a news release. Each teen will become a member of a team and equipped with gear that police use on a daily basis to do their jobs.

In addition, participants will receive a T-shirt to keep that will identify them with their team and the academy.

The Teen Academy is being offered to Bernard seventh- and eighth-grade pupils.

Selection will be based on school performance, attendance, disciplinary actions and teacher recommendations.

Chief of Police Jerry Lee stated in the release, “The success of the adult Citizen Police Academy and overall interest in law enforcement by young adults has sparked a renewed interest in providing the benefits of both programs to the youth in the area.

“The participants in this program will have the opportunity to handle the calls, make the decisions, effect arrests, if necessary, and feel the emotional highs and lows that officers experience on a daily basis,” he continued. “This Teen Academy could also serve as an introduction to the Law Enforcement Explorers program or spark a potential interest in a law enforcement career.”

For additional information, call St. Louis County School Resource Officer Susan Doherty at (314) 467-6625.