Tricia Aponte addresses her class of cadets

Administrators at Lehigh Acres Middle School have announced the introduction of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Cadet Program at the school. Deputy Sheriff Tricia Aponte, school SRO, coordinates the program and has served the Lee County Sheriff’s Office since 2002.

The Cadet Program is a leadership program that introduces each student to essential topics such as drugs, violence, crime prevention/intervention, dealing with bullies, peer conflict, and positive decision making. The program also teaches students important character traits and leadership skills that will help them to become productive citizens of the community.

The cadets consist of 23 eager members who are training and learning how to become positive influences in both their school and community, local school officials said. The cadet program will accomplish this goal by exposing the members to different aspects of law enforcement to include, but not limited to, the Juvenile Justice System, Forensics, K-9 Units, and much more, said Richard Keast, a spokesman at the school.

Students enrolled in the program will learn discipline and organizational skills through physical training and teamwork, he said.

“The program encourages our youth to be the “Best they Can Be-Everyday All Day,” teaching the students how to become successful and to make positive decisions, Keast said.