Founder of Youth Program Honored

A police commander who formed a military-style academy this year that teaches Oxnard high school students about careers in law enforcement has been recognized by state Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren.

Cmdr. Jeff Young, 42, has received a letter of commendation for starting the Cops-N-Jocks Law Enforcement Youth Academy, an offshoot of the Cops-N-Jocks youth mentoring program that started in Santa Paula in 1992.

Cops-N-Jocks pairs police officers with student athletes to encourage positive relations between law enforcement and youth. Last year, Lungren selected the program as one of four recipients of a state Crime Prevention Program of the Year award.

The new youth academy grew from that original program and was formed by Young in March. It is staffed by volunteer instructors from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and is open to any high school junior or senior in the county who is recommended by a school counselor.

The academy graduated its first 14 students in May following nine weeks of instruction that included lectures, tests and hands-on training. Each graduate received a letter of support and praise from Lungren.

“It really does give young adults an opportunity to see how police departments work at all levels. They can see the front-line officer and agents and the support services,” Young said Tuesday.

Rich Randolph, founder of Cops-N-Jocks, said: “The letter commends [Young] for his commitment to the youth in our community and his expertise in community policing.”

A fall youth academy is being assembled. Students interested should contact a school counselor or call the academy at 655-0062.

The academy is run on a lean budget of about $3,000, and Young said donations are being sought.