Marquette County Sheriff’s Youth Police Academy cadets act as a jury in a mock trial. (Photo courtesy of the Marquette Sheriff’s Office)

MARQUETTE — Thirteen high school students from across Marquette County are continuing in their youth cadet training which started earlier this month.

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Youth Police Academy started March 6 and includes a variety of hands-on law enforcement related activities for the youth cadets.

In this current class, there are 13 cadets from the following school districts: Marquette, Westwood, Munising, Gwinn and Ishpeming as well as some home-schooled students.

Sheriff Greg Zyburt said cadets participated in a mock trial on March 21. Cadets were taught about the judicial process from the initial point of contact with law enforcement through the trial.

They also witnessed professional prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges performing their designated roles.

“A lot of people don’t take the time to look at how each part of the process functions and that it is really a checks and balances system,” Zyburt said. “The kids got to hear about it, participate in it, and ask questions. Any time that there is a full immersion in learning it helps the information stick in the memory.”

Through the academy, cadets get a “real and true” glimpse, according to Zyburt, of what being a police officer would be like in real life as opposed to on television. The courses also emphasize the importance of math, writing and computer skills, public speaking and physical fitness.

Other activities and lessons have concerned corrections, special operations, defensive tactics, patrol functions and evidence collection among others.

Overall, it provides school-age kids with a resource that allows them to ask questions and take in information.

“This group has been amazing,” Zyburt said. “They have been full of great questions and show up early to class. They have all been participating and seem excited to have the opportunity to be there and to have so many amazing people from the field who take the time to come in and present to them.”