Police Camp enforces various physical and mental disciplines

Sarah Cummins

8/29/2001 12:00:00 AM

Native American youth interested in law enforcement found their enthusiasm encouraged during recent camp encounters modeled after police training.

"I'd like to go again," said Saginaw Chippewa Tribal member Richard Francis about his experience.

Michigan Indian Law Organization (MILO) Camp took place Aug. 6 to 10 at the Lake Ellen Baptist Camp in Crystal Falls. Ten boys and seven girls ages 12-17 participated from several Michigan Tribes including, the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, Bay Mills Indian Community, Hannahville Indian Community and Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

"It's just to give the kids a taste of what an officer goes through in the academy," explained Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Corrections Officer Kip Moe. "Obviously, we can't go through all 18 weeks."

The youth stayed in eight cabins about a half-mile into the woods without electricity or running water.

In order to show camp participants, referred to as cadets, there is more to law enforcement than arresting the bad guys, the curriculum covered a wide range of physical and mental activities. The teens began each day at 7 a.m. with physical training. Throughout the day, they engaged in activities such as report writing, bike patrol, girls and women in law enforcement class, ethics class, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, climbing walls, swimming and horseback riding. The evening closed with a campfire and lights out at 10 p.m. making for a 15-hour day.

"They were pretty strict. But if they weren't strict at all, I don't think the camp would've pulled through," stated 12-year-old camper Josh Hudson.

Although the regimen was a lot of work, one teen suggested others shouldn't let that discourage them from attending.

"If you wanted to come, don't back down and be scared," said Saginaw Chippewa Tribal descendant Monica Gonzalez. "Once you get up there and you learn how to do everything right, like make your bunks and stuff, you'd be fine. I'm going to go every year until I can't go anymore."

One activity the youth particularly enjoyed involved a paintball gun, according to Moe who acted as camp counselor with several other Tribal Police representatives. He and fellow Saginaw Chippewa Corrections Officer Jamie Grinzinger hid in the woods while a camper armed with a paintball gun searched for them. After sighting the "trespassers" who carried unloaded paint guns, the cadet had to cope with the situation as a trained officer would.

"We had to tell them to raise their hands and drop their weapons," explained Francis, 16.

If it was necessary to fire, the camper had to hit the mock intruder center mass with paintballs. The activity was used for tactical training, according to Moe.

"They had different scenarios where one held the other hostage and stuff like that," explained Hudson, a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community.

On Aug. 8, local law enforcement officials did presentations for the cadets at Career Day. Representatives from the Michigan State Police, Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) and Iron County explained to campers that there are many aspects to law enforcement besides being a police officer.

"They touched on how they got into law enforcement," said Moe. "They gave the kids an idea of the different areas and factions that the kids can become involved in."

Some of the participants already had career plans.

"I want to be an observation officer, or I want to work for the Tribe going out on duty," explained Gonzalez, 13. "You have to finish high school, get a diploma and get a college degree."

Many of the career choices the teens were interested in require higher education.

"I'd like to maybe work in dispatch, be an officer or even an actor," stated Hudson.

He also said that in order to achieve these goals, "Most likely, you have to go to college and go to training."

Native American children from Michigan have been given the opportunity to attend MILO Camp for six years. This recent event was sponsored by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe through a state of Michigan Juvenile Justice Grant.

In order to qualify for the grant, officials from the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department had to show that the camp would offer positive interaction between law enforcement and youth, according to Moe. He said he believes the event was very positive.

"We would take all the kids back again next year," he stated.

On Aug. 10, the campers were awarded medals for participation and reminded to practice the expectations set up by the camp.

"Take one thing you gathered from this camp-whether it's saying �yes, sir; yes, ma'am,' holding doors, cleaning your room-and do it for one day when you get home," said Moe. "Impress your parents. Show them the integrity that the camp has taught you."

Despite Saginaw Chippewa sponsorship and Tribal Police involvement, officers from the Hannahville Indian Community and Bay Mills Indian Community were frequently at the camp to help. Officer Kuzmik of Bay Mills stayed the entire week.