The Junior Police Academy is an elective course taught at six Middle Schools, and is designed to motivate young people to be outstanding citizens through law enforcement education. An expansion of community policing, JPA transform the traditional role of the police officer into one of mentor and friend, while encouraging our young citizens to be partners, not adversaries, in building safer schools and communities. The course is taught by the campus School Resource Officer and is offered to seventh and eighth grade students. The course actively engages students to assume the role of a police officer, by educating them to the responsibilities and expectations, as well as interacting through role play exercises and simulated situations. At the conclusion, the students walk away with the knowledge and power to serve their communities and to make a responsible difference.