Criminal justice students get inside look at career options
Criminal justice students at the Coshocton County Career Center are pictured demonstrating their skills to a group of young students who visited their school. Contributed | Beacon
COSHOCTON – The criminal justice program at the Coshocton County Career Center gives students a glimpse into the world of law enforcement.
“We do a lot of book work and practicing so we can apply what we’ve learned,” said Craig Reveal, the criminal justice instructor. “They will be in here working on finger printing, handcuffing each other and we also have exercise equipment because there is a physical element to the job.”
They also practice their skills by volunteering at the school and in the community.
“A big project for us is parking cars at Roscoe Village,” Reveal said. “We also help at Ridgewood football and basketball games. The chief in West Lafayette is very good to us. We also volunteer some here at the school by helping at the college fair night and patrolling the school grounds.”
Students who complete the program can head straight for careers in fields like security or working as dispatchers and others go on to earn two or even four year degrees.
“You can’t become a certified police officer until you are 21 so I’ve had some students go right to the military so they can become a MP,” Reveal said. “Others have gone on to tech schools for two years until they can become a police officer. Some will go even further with their education and get a four year degree in criminal justice.”
Reveal believes the students have an edge in their chosen career paths because he doesn’t sugarcoat anything for them.
“I tell them how it is out there and tell them about real life situations they might see as an officer so they have a better idea about what is coming,” he said.
Reveal’s former career was in law enforcement. He started out as a police officer for Bethesda Hospital in Zanesville and then moved on to the Mount Vernon Police Department. He also worked for the West Lafayette Police Department for 14 years.
“I enjoy interacting with the kids here (at the career center) and seeing them develop an interest in the occupation,” Reveal said. “I love this school. It’s like my second family.”
He recently wrapped up his 18th year at the career center.
“It’s interesting to see the camaraderie that develops between the kids in the criminal justice program,” Reveal said. “It’s similar to what you see in a police department. They get that you have to stick together. Even if you don’t like each other when it’s time to work, you work.”
Category: Education
