The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a collaborative group of Colorado Springs kids who come together once a month with the Colorado Springs Police Department to discuss concerns or questions they have about the police and the city. Not only does the advisory council get information, but they also get to learn the different aspects of policing and they experience what it’s like to work in different sectors that make up the police department.

“I established the Youth Advisory Council last year so I could hear the perspectives and insights directly from high school-aged kids in our city,” says Adrian Vasquez Chief of Police, Colorado Springs Police Department. He expresses the importance of having the advisory panel and the beneficial outcomes that bringing kids and police together can bring to the community.

The Chief’s YAC has some opportunities throughout the year which include trips to the Communications Center downtown, the CSPD Training Academy, and the four different substations within the city.  While the Chief of Police gets a lot of valuable information about youth concerns, participants also learn about the Criminal Justice System in our city, they can earn a letter of recommendation from the Chief of Police himself, and can also earn a CSPD coin or a Chiefs Challenge Coin. Students who have an interest in a future in criminal justice should consider joining the council when the application opens.

From Harrison, students who sit on the Youth Advisory are juniors Marcus Hughes, Brianna Gorman, and senior Maribel Carrera. Last year, Jonathan Bales, our current Office Secretary, sat on the council as well.

Every year, CSPD will open an application for youth. That application period has closed.