Police & Teens Together (PATT)

The program is delivered in four classroom sessions
over a two-week time period

SESSION 1: “Youth Perspectives on Law Enforcement”

This discovery session provides students with an opportunity to share their personal experiences, thoughts, insights and viewpoints about law enforcement in our society. Before the program starts, students are asked to complete a survey about encounters they have had with officers, their overall feelings about law enforcement, and ways in which officers can assist them.

SESSION 2: “Law Enforcement Officers As People
And As Professionals”

Each officer introduces him/herself “as a person.” Following a graphic video of actual footage from a squad car in which an officer is murdered, each officer then explains his or her professional attitude and demeanor, and why this and certain tactical approaches and responses are vital to the safety of the officer, his/her partner, and others who might be in the area.

SESSION 3: “Trading Places” Role Plays

By this time, some rapport has been created between the students and officers, and we go outdoors for the “Trading Places” role plays, which are the highlight of the program. The students are “suited up” in police attire, replete with vests, hats and fake guns, and take their places in the squad car, while the officers (some of them “armed” with fake weapons, some with fake contraband) take their places in a passenger car, ready  for a motor vehicle stop. Several motor vehicle stops are conducted -- e.g., not stopping at a stop sign, speeding, suspected stolen car, broken taillight -- followed by one or two “crowd dispersement” exercises.

SESSION 4: “Building Bridges: Creating Mutual Respect”

The role plays are videotaped, and an edited version is shown in the beginning of session four, “Building Bridges: Creating Mutual Respect,” where all participants ask additional questions and discuss what they have learned. Every participant receives a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the Prosecutor, local Chief of Police, and the high school principal; a PATT T-shirt; a copy of a group photo; and a copy of the video, which affords them the opportunity to talk with their parents, families, and peers about their experience, their insights, and key points about staying safe. A post-survey is taken, with almost across-the-board positive indicators of improved perception and understanding of the role of law enforcement, and a greater willingness to communicate and cooperate.

“...If someone was to put down a cop such as
“does he have anything better to do,”

I would explain to them what I learned from this class
and how their job really is.”

This survey response from a Roselle Park High School student at the completion of the November 2002 program, when asked “Has your perception of law enforcement changed as a result of the program? Why?” succinctly captures the achievement of one of the program’s key goals.

We would like to acknowledge the support of the daily and local print and broadcast news media in covering the program presentation. In addition to increasing the excitement among participants and at the school, the coverage affords the opportunity to extend the education and “lessons learned” to the broader community.