"The day I saw her graduate from the academy was just so fulfilling.
I saw growth in her because she started at 18 and she is now a police officer."
That's how Deputy Chief Angela Johnson describes Amiah Jackson, a recent graduate of the youth apprentice program at the North Charleston Police Department in South Carolina, per the Post and Courier.
Jackson was inspired to become a police officer by her cousin, so the department teamed up with Trident Technical College to offer the apprenticeships, which last for 40 hours a week during the school year and 10 hours a week during the summer, per the Post and Courier.
"The students gain real life insight into what law enforcement is," Johnson says.
"They also have the opportunity to understand the complexities and responsibility to maintain public safety."
The apprentices work full-time during the school year and part-time during the summer, per the Post and Courier.
They're mentored by officers and gain experience working alongside actual officers.
"There's always someone with you every step of the way, whether it is the apprenticeship program, whether you want to be a community service officer, a duty officer, they help you along the way to reach your goals," Johnson says.
The next class of apprentices will start in August.
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