WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Kirby Park was filled with students enrolled in the State Police Law and Leadership Academy.
"A program we started about four years ago to assist individuals seeking a career in law enforcement," explained Master Trooper David Peters, the Director of the Northeast Law and Leadership Academy. " To understand the challenges that are involved with natural law enforcement, Academy, fitness, military drill academics, time management and actually stress management as well."
"My family is involved and my family are police officers in the Dominican Republic, so I want to follow my dad's pathway," said participant Esmerlim Alcantar. "And also I'm doing criminal justice at King's College so I want to do something like this to be a police officer."
Right now, the focus is physical fitness with a workout put on by the Travis Manion Foundation.
"Travis was killed in 2007 when he was on his second deployment, and he went out, and he was able to save individuals, but in order to save those individuals, he gave the ultimate sacrifice," explained Claire Gallen, a senior coordinator with the foundation.
In his honor, these students, along with troopers, will run 400 meters around the track, perform 29 squats with optional weights, and repeat that seven times.
"It was awesome; I feel so good right now," said Alcantar.
Troopers say the workout and the leadership lecture folks at the Travis Manion Foundation give to these students teaches them values they want in future troopers, and many who participate in this program go on to graduate from the state police academy in Hershey.
"Five troopers now a couple of graduating in May and other local law enforcement that are now serving our communities have come through this program. I'm very proud of all of them and what they've done," added Peters.