Tillamook American Legion sponsored students graduate law enforcement camp

Five students from across Tillamook County graduated from the Jim Willis Law Enforcement Career Camp on Friday, July 12, at Camp Rilea in Warrenton.

Betsabet Mondragon, Eli Gobel, Alan Parra, Tateum Carter and Evelia Haines, who received the camp’s sportsmanship award, were sponsored by Tillamook American Legion Post 47 to attend the five-day, four-night camp.

Initially, the post was only going to sponsor two students, but the opportunity drew elevated interest and by the time the camp started three students from Tillamook High School and one each from Neah-Kah-Nie and Nestucca High Schools had signed up. The camp was cohosted by the American Legion Department of Oregon and the Oregon State Police, with cooperation from the Oregon State Sheriffs Association and Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police.

At the camp, students cycled through a variety of activities that exposed them to the wide variety of career paths in law enforcement, learning about K9, and fish and wildlife enforcement, criminal investigations, traffic citations and courthouse proceedings.

In total, 18 students from across the state attended the camp and Tillamook Legionnaire Rick Stelzig said that Tillamook County’s strong turnout would allow the camp to continue in future years. Stelzig thanked the principles and counseling staff from the three high schools for supporting the program and helping to ensure its continuance.

For more information about this and other programs and sponsorship opportunities, visit tillamookpost47.com.