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CHARLOTTE – While police recruitment is at an all-time high, student interest in a law enforcement career is also peaking. Even CMPD’s police academy for high school students is seeing record enrollment.

“I want to go to the Army first and then become a police officer after that,” said Thomas Young, 14, who expressed interest in joining CMPD one day. “And I've been wanting that career since I was about 6 or 7; and I stuck with it.”

Young is one of almost 50 students in this year’s high school academy. Each student who goes through the program won’t become an officer, but Training Leaders are still excited about getting the teenagers involved.

“Not only does it give us a chance to train them with a career in law enforcement, it's also a positive thing for them to hold onto through their time in high school and college,” explained Officer Tom Allen of CMPD.

Though they can’t become sworn officers until they’re 21-years old, the academy gives them a jump start on that process and a glimpse into the life they may one day lead. The teenagers went through a variety of scenarios like pulling over a car, responding to a business break-in call and searching a home for vandals.

But the students also got an education on the work officers do beyond high-speed chases and shootouts. “That's a very small portion of the job. The majority of the time we're out there you're interacting with people, good people, who need some help,” said Allen.

This year’s class is about double the size of previous classes, with 48 students. The teens will graduate from the course Friday, and Allen said they will have an edge on the competition if they decide to try and join CMPD one day because of the personal connection they now have with the department.