On Nov. 6, Kissimmee Police Chief Lee Massie was the guest speaker in Jennifer Torres’ criminal justice elective course at Denn John Middle School. Massie talked with the students about his role as police chief and assisted the students with their assignment of building their own police department. The students were able to ask Massie questions about his department and put the answers to work in their own departments. Massie was one of  several speakers that the Kissimmee Police Department offered to the class.  Detectives, SWAT members, Traffic Enforcement and Canine teams also visited the class.

“Opportunities to speak with young people in the community is paramount in building an ongoing citizen and police partnership,” said Massie, “Fostering this relationship early on will help the students understand that citizens working with their police department is the best deterrent against crime.”

Denn John Middle School’s criminal justice course is available to interested eighth grade students. The course currently has 29 students enrolled. The criminal justice course is designed to introduce students to various careers in the criminal justice field and examine society’s response to crime.  Students learn about the powerful effects of crime on the individual and the community.  This is the first year Denn John Middle School has offered this elective course.