San Manuel Donates Thousands to Redlands Teen Academy

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has donated $28,000 to the Redlands Police Officers Association in support the Redlands Emergency Services Academy.

San Manuel has supported the program, which mentors young high school graduates, for the past five years.

The program offers area teens with an interest in a career in emergency services. Participants share temporary quarters for one week on the campus of the University of Redlands, are exposed to hands-on training exercises in fire and police operations, and are introduced to state of the art simulators.

“This program stresses the importance of a well-rounded education, as well as the value of an extended education to each of the teens in attendance,” officials said through a written news release.

RESA began in July of 1999 as a collaborative effort between the Redlands Police and Fire Departments, Crafton Hills College, Redlands Unified School District and COMPACT, a Redlands business and school community, to offer new graduates of Redlands' high schools an opportunity to experience first-hand the duties of police officers and firefighters, officials said.

Since 2009 RESA has been funded by a grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. In 2012, the Redlands Emergency Services Academy won the Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government from the League of California Cities, officials said.

RESA graduates have gone on to careers in emergency services, including several hired by the Redlands Fire and Police Departments.