The La Mesa Police Department will be hosting their annual KIDZWATCH Academy in March to help children learn how to become safer individuals.
The KIDZWATCH Academy helps empower today’s child to become tomorrow’s successful adult. Children, along with their parents, attend a series of six weekly classes and learn important topics.
Classes begin every Thursday, March 9-30 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. and one Saturday, March 18. This year’s KIDZWATCH Academy registration filled up in record time, but families can still join the waitlist.
“The program is important because children are the eyes and ears of our neighborhoods and they see and experience a lot,” said Mayor Mark Arapostathis.
Each of the six classes will focus on a different safety topic. One lesson will be about using 911 and reporting accurate information. In this class, kids will have the opportunity to use a simulator to practice talking to a dispatcher.
Participants will also learn about nature safety, such as identifying potential plant hazards, water safety, internet safety, and fire safety, including how to “stop, drop, and roll” and develop a family evacuation plan.
“A key takeaway from the program is that children’s safety plays an important role in their development into adulthood and that they can empower themselves to contribute to their own safety in our community in an active but safe way,” said Arapostathis.
Classes will be taught by experts on each topic. Teachers will include representatives from the police and fire departments, lifeguards from the City of La Mesa, and park rangers from Mission Trails. Kids will also get the opportunity to meet Declan (pictured), LMPD’s favorite dog. 
“We often hear from parents that the KIDZWATCH Academy enabled them to have meaningful conversations with their children on topics that are so important to their safety,” said Katherine Lynch, public information officer at the La Mesa Police Department. “These topics are also taught by experts in respective domains, and therefore can serve as life-long lessons for these kids as they grow up.” 
Lynch began working in the KIDZWATCH Academy when she joined the La Mesa Police Department in 2005. She said she is often approached by adults that remember their experience in the program, which shows her the positive impact it has.
“Also, from a law enforcement perspective, these lessons also provide us, the police officers, with the opportunity to engage with some of the youngest members of our community,” said Lynch. “This can also allow kids to get to know the humans behind the badge and let me see that police officers are here to protect them and help them when they are scared or in need of protection.”
Photos courtesy of La Mesa Police Department
– Natali Gonzalez is an MA student in rhetoric and writing studies at San Diego State University. See more of her work at: thedailyaztec.com/staff/_name/natali-gonzalez/.
