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On his 11-year-old frame, Abraham Nakhal of Los Angeles donned a heavy ballistics vest usually worn by Bowling Green Police Department Critical Response Team members.

As one of 25 children who attended the BGPD Junior Police Academy from Wednesday through Friday, he was so excited Wednesday night about returning the next day that he couldnt sleep.

Abraham, who hopes to one day become a police officer or a doctor, is in Bowling Green visiting his aunt Huda Melkey, who persuaded him to attend the camp.

I chose to come here. The first day I came it was so much fun, he said. We met all kinds of police men and women and the police dog.

Then after a while we drove around in carts on the road here which was really, really, really fun, he said of learning about traffic laws on the mock city streets of Safety City, a small replica of Bowling Green set up in front of Greenwood High School.

The tiny city has paved streets and sidewalks, working traffic lights, railroad tracks and a miniature water tower that looks like the tower on hospital hill.

When I came today, I was excited to come, Abraham said. Im just so excited I couldnt sleep.

While traffic safety was the highlight for him, he also enjoyed learning about crime scene investigation. He was surprised that BGPD Critical Response Team members wear camouflage.

I never knew they had camouflage. I thought SWAT wears black all the time because Im from L.A., he said.

They treat us kindly and respectfully. I want to be a cop because they help all human people out there, Abraham said

Braxton McCoy, who after patiently waiting to turn 10 years old, was finally old enough to do it this year, he said of the junior academy.

I always wanted to do this camp, Braxton said.

His biggest takeaway from the camp is to choose a life without drug use, alcohol or smoking, he said.

I thought their gadgets were cool. Their outfits were cool, and its good to help the community, Braxton said.

He hopes to one day become an officer to help the community and all of its needs.

Stella Davis, 12, was attracted to the camp after hearing about her moms participation in the Citizens Police Academy.

I thought it was really fun. It really opened my eyes about drugs and alcohol, Stella said. I really learned how hard the officers jobs are.

Her favorite part of the camp as of Thursday afternoon was the crime scene investigation where she handled mock blood samples and helped find shell casings and a mock gun.

I enjoyed taking the samples of the case we were working on, she said.

I didnt know how many cases they were doing in a day. It surprised me about how many cases they were doing, Stella said.

She is still deciding on a career choice between law enforcement and marine biology.

Shelby Hatler, 10, whose father is retired from Kentucky State Police and mother works as a dispatcher for BGPD, wasnt really surprised by anything she learned at the camp because of things she has already learned at home from her parents. But she thoroughly enjoyed the crime scene investigation.

I got to take the pictures, she said. I liked finding the gun, bullets and evidence.

Im going to be a dispatcher just like my mom, she said.

The annual camp is open to 25 kids ages 10 to 13, Maj. Matt Edwards said.

Its a fun way to show young people what their police department is all about and make a connection between the police and the youth, he said.

The junior academy is more than 10 years old. So far, John Deeb is the only BGPD police officer who as a boy attended the junior police academy.

I anticipate that number will increase, Edwards said.

The kids spend three days learning about all things police before wrapping up with a mock trial and a graduation ceremony. The cost is $50 and scholarships are available.

Its a very hands-on academy, Edwards said. To be fun at this age it has to be hands on.

Sign ups are held every year at the Community Education Summer Activity Fair. For more information, call Officer Ronnie Ward or Edwards at 270-393-4000.

Follow Assistant City Editor Deborah Highland on Twitter @BGDNCrimebeat or visit bgdailynews.com.

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Kids learn about cops at junior police academy - Bowling Green Daily News