Several dozen local teenagers are spending their summer learning 'handcuffing techniques' as part of the Bexar County Sheriff's Department's Explorer program, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
They reported to the Sheriff's training academy on the south side today for the first day of the summer academy.
Sheriff Javier Salazar says like every other new experience, many of them are uncertain what to expect, but he says some, like a young woman he recruited today, decide to make law enforcement their life's work.
"Actually I recruited a young lady out of this class today," Salazar said. "She just came back to the explorer's program, she's 19, and by the end of the day we will be letting her apply to become a deputy."
He says even if they decide against a law enforcement career, this sort of training can give them a head start in a lot of other fields.
"If they don't decide to go into law enforcement later, its not for them, they decide to go into private industry or the military, hopefully we have shown them some things that will serve them well for the rest of their career."
Salazar says interest in the Explorers is growing, and he thinks one reason is the current rash of school shootings and other high profile violence has made young people think about the importance of law enforcement, and the key role it plays in their lives
."When I took over at the BCSO in 2017, we had about 15 kids," he said. "I set a goal for my community policing deputies, by the end of 2017, I want 50 kids int he program. These guys gave me 150 kids in the program by that time, and we are slated to hit 200 kids by the end of the summer."