STATESBORO, Ga. () — Statesboro Police put a group of teens up to the test to see if they have what it takes to wear a badge during this year’s Teen Police Academy.

When you’re a teen, choosing how to spend your summer break is a big decision.

“This is the summer,” said De’Andria Baldwin, a rising junior at Statesboro High in the program. “Like you’re usually going to your local 4-H or Girl Scouts.”

Twelve teens in Bulloch County decided they wanted something different.

“This is really what I want to do,” said Baldwin.

Kinsley Culberson, a homeschooled student said, “I’ve come to be more interested in it. It’s really interesting to me and realizing it’s probably something I would have to do before I can go into the field I want.”

Over the week they’ve learned the ins and outs of police work, from the men and women patrolling their streets.

Wednesday, they faced one of their most difficult challenges, clearing the agility training course in under two and a half minutes.

“I was really shocked, some of them really surprised me in their individual effort,” said certification manager, Lieutenant Kris Mock. “The group as a whole though, there’s just not a lot of quit. They all just wanted to try to do it.”

Since Monday, they’ve worked with Police K-9s, taken fingerprints and learned about how the policing process works.

“Seeing this locally, I’m interested in it,” said Baldwin. “Hopefully I can help people in the future.”

The Teen Police Academy is coming back to the department as they become fully employed for the first time in over a decade. Lt. Mock said they’re hoping to bridge a gap between teens and police and hopefully train the next generation.

“Maybe we’re a little bit more trustworthy to them, maybe we’re not just the guys behind the badge we’re actually people, it develops relationships and friendships and helps plant the seed and that can come out in many different ways.”