APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – High School students learning what it’s like on the other side of distracted driving — the enforcement side.
The students gained not only a different perspective, but also perhaps insight into a potential career.
High school students spent some time behind a police radar gun.
Appleton police officers showed them the ropes. Sgt. Dave Lund tells WLUK…
“To watch some traffic around the Appleton East school area, and start to see what we do on a daily basis as patrol officers.”
It’s all part of a program through Leadership Fox Cities, called Project RADAR.
Jessica Marhefke is with Leadership Fox Cities…
“They’re either new drivers or going to be new drivers. With that, comes a responsibility of what distracted driving could do, as well as an awareness of how it could play into the career that they’re interested in.”
Wednesday’s exercise was for students interested in criminal justice.
They were able to use a radar guns, and observe driver’s speeds, and whether or not they were driving distracted.
Rylee Polman is a senior at Appleton East
“What we see versus what they see is a completely different story”
Lund says it’s all about showing these students how important it is to drive safely, and what it takes to be an officer.
“It’s not just pointing the radar gun and pulling someone over for a ticket. We have to estimate speeds, we have to make sure the equipment is properly cared for.”
And Polma says the students appreciate the opportunity to learn.
“I’m definitely considering this as my #1 major right now, and this is definitely going to be a huge help in making that decision factor for myself.”
Little Chute High School also plans to participate in the Leadership Fox Cities Project RADAR.
