Four police cadets from Newtown are heading off to the United States this week as part of an exchange with Southern Maryland Junior Police Academy.
It is the first time Dyfed Powys Police has taken part in such an exchange, and VPCs Rebecca Roberts, Ffion Jones, Tomos Chick and Cheyenne Kirby are looking forward to representing the force stateside.
The group will be put through their paces with 5am wake-up calls and early morning exercise drills, room inspections and obstacle courses. They will also experience a ride-along with Maryland Police, and visit the Drug Enforcement Agency and Secret Service.
The cadets were chosen following an application process, and have been fundraising towards the trip for several months. It will be an opportunity to get a rare insight into the world of American policing.
VPC Rebecca Roberts said: “I am extremely looking forward to the trip as a whole, but if I had to pick an event that I’m most looking forward to it is the ride along. Getting the chance to have an inside perspective of the workings of officers and responses to calls.”
VPC Ffion Jones, who hopes to become a Special Constable when she turns 18, added: “As I would like to go into the police when I am older, I am trying to get as much experience as I can, and that is one of the reasons why I joined the cadets.
"I believe this trip to America will allow me to develop and expand my knowledge on what I already know about the police and also learn some new things along the way.”
Each day the cadets are away, they will take part in classroom-based sessions including inputs on the use of force, arrest procedures, the dangers of social media and gang awareness.
VPC Tomos Chick said he was looking forward to the experience, despite the prospect of the early starts.
“I am looking forward to the fun experiences that we will have through the exhausting days such as visiting the FBI headquarters, as well as learning more about American policing,” he said.
“Of course there are some parts that I am dreading such as the 5am wake ups but this will be an experience that I’ll never forget and I am looking forward to a lot.”
Cheyenne Kirby added that she had been preparing for the trip by improving her fitness, and hoped to gain skills from working with others at the academy.
“I also want to meet new people and see how different the American police service is to British policing,” she said.
The cadets will be accompanied by PC Andy Buckley and Special Constable Natalie Reyneke.
Cadet leader Sergeant Suzanne Lloyd thanked the pair for their help, along with sponsors Newtown Rotary Club, Powys Chief Inspector Rhiannon Ivens, the Dyfed-Powys Police Special Constabulary, Tesco and Morrisons.
“This exchange is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these young people, one which they will never forget,” she said.
“The cadets see themselves as ambassadors for Dyfed-Powys Police, they wear their uniform with pride and are extremely excited and proud to represent the Force in such a way.”
Sgt Lloyd is already working on plans for a return visit of the US cadets to Dyfed-Powys Police next year.
Chief Inspector Rhiannon Ivens was instrumental in establishing the link with Maryland Police.
She said: “PS Lloyd has worked very hard to make the arrangements with support from others and I want to thank her for her efforts and also express my gratitude to our colleagues across the miles for their assistance and hospitality, in addition to those that have made donations thus far.
“This is an incredible opportunity for the cadets and we hope that we can continue to build upon this experience and develop a programme of exchanges in the future across Dyfed Powys.”
You can follow the cadets’ experience via an online diary. Visit the Dyfed-Powys Police Facebook page to read what they get up to.
Photo: Cheyenne Kirby, Ffion Jones, Chief Constable Mark Collins, Tomos Chick
