Arlington, Cambridge Middlesex County sheriff's cadets.
Arlington children ages 8 through 12 were among those graduating from the Youth Public Safety Academy’s first session earlier this month. Altogether, Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian congratulated 64 graduates on July 15. Other cadets were from Bedford, Burlington, Cambridge, Tewksbury and Tyngsborough.
YPSA, established by the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in 1999, focuses on important issues such as internet safety, fire preparedness and prevention, and water safety skills. This month’s graduation ceremony was the first since 2019. The popular summer camp had to be held virtually for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Three additional one-week sessions with participants from across Middlesex County are set to run through Aug. 5 of this year.
“After two years of remote programming, we are proud to welcome cadets, their families and our community partners back to YPSA,” said Koutoujian in a July 18 news release. “Throughout its history, YPSA has provided valuable opportunities for the county’s youngest residents to get to know some of the corrections officers, police officers and firefighters who serve their communities on a daily basis.
“It also teaches cadets crucial lessons about team-building, friendship and public safety that they take back to their homes, schools and communities. That is why I truly believe that this is one of the best, most comprehensive camps around and why we are so excited to be back this summer.”
Pictured are Koutoujian (back row center), Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, Arlington Fire Chief Kevin Kelley, Arlington Police Capt. Sean Kiernan and representatives of the Arlington and Cambridge police departments with graduates of the academy from Arlington and Cambridge.
To learn more about the academy and other community-based programming, visit middlesexsheriff.org/community
