"I always thought policemen were like big scary people and I should always avoid them.
But going through the program I've realized that they're very nice people and they're individuals and they're not really out to get you, they're there to help you."
Those are the words of a 16-year-old student who attended Boise Police Department's Shield Academy, a three-week summer program for at-risk youth, the Idaho Statesman reports.
The free program, which runs from July 8 to July 25 at Timberline High School, focuses on leadership, self-esteem, career exploration, and more.
"I learned more about BPD and how important they are," says a student who attended last year's program.
"I learned that judges aren't all dudes....
I really enjoyed that because it helped me get a vision of what my future job interviews will be like."
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HootSuite CEO Ryan Holmes says “…social tools are getting more broadly adopted across organizations. It’s not just marketing anymore, it’s sales, public relations, human relations, everywhere.”