Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesMya Smith, 13, and Simone Johnson, 11, learn how to uncover a hidden body during a mock crime scene investigation Tuesday during the Valdosta Police Department Inaugural Youth Citizens Police Academy.

VALDOSTA — Area students became young detectives Tuesday as they dug up the bones of a discovered body, investigated a homicide scene and examined an armed robbery scene. 

Thirty kids visited the Valdosta-Lowndes Regional Crime Lab as part of the Valdosta Police Department Inaugural Youth Citizens Police Academy.

The week-long program affords children ages 11-13 the chance to observe and interact with the police department and its daily tasks.

Lt. Stephen Thompson, criminalist supervisor at the Valdosta-Lowndes Regional Crime Lab, said the program helps children explore more aspects of law enforcement.

“As far as on our side for the lab, they’re exposed to the sciences and what we provide as far as criminalists,” he said.

Students located a hidden body, filmed and photographed the crime scene and found any relative evidence while at the lab.

“The kids came out and actually did a full scene as they were arriving at the scene like criminalists and detectives,” Thompson said.

Jarmayah Lonon, 12, said visiting the lab assisted her in developing the necessary skills to become a police officer just like her mom.

Her mom is an officer with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and has been in law enforcement for 20 years, Lonon said.

“She’s a great police officer. She’s a great mom. She’s just everything to me,” she said.

Lonon said she has learned how to solve crimes and that becoming a police officer has been her dream since she was a little girl.

Simone Johnson, 11, said the most exciting thing to her was digging up bones with her friends and seeing gunshots in a tank.

She said she attended the program because she’s learning how to help people when they need it.

Mya Smith, 13, enjoyed interacting with VPD and getting an inside look at the career of a police officer.

“I found it really cool that we got to hang out with police officers to see what they get to do,” she said.

Breakfast and lunch were provided and Thompson said students went on a ride-along with VPD later in the day. The program will continue next week for teens ages 13-17.

Amanda Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.