Area kids get an inside look at local law enforcement and judicial system
Courtesy photo - Lydia Cluff played the role of prosecutor, and Josh Ocampo was the defense attorney in a mock trial that was part of Othello Law Days May 17.
Fifth grade students from Hiawatha, Wahitis and Scootney elementary schools were active participants in the initial Othello Law Days venue Thursday, May 17.
The event was designed to give the students a positive experience with the judicial system and local law enforcement.
“It was really convenient they asked fifth graders to be involved in this,” said Hillary Fought who teaches at Hiawatha Elementary. “Part of our standards for the kids is to learn about civics and our government, and to be able to see that in action was awesome.”
The day long field trip was the brainchild of Adams County Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Peter Palubicki.
“I used to practice in Snohomish County and they had been doing this for decades. It’s a great thing because it provided an opportunity for children to visit the courthouse and they’re not in trouble and neither are their parents,” Palubicki said. “The same thing with the Othello Police Department… the kids got to interact with law enforcement and they hadn’t done anything wrong and their parents hadn’t done anything wrong either.”
The first part of the two-part event saw four mock trials put on by fifth graders who played the part of the judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, defendant and witness.
“They put the trial on for a jury of fifth graders that deliberated to decide if their fellow student was guilty or not,” Palubicki said. “District court Judge Benzel in Othello stood by the kids who were playing the role of the judge and let them wear her robes. She was also there to answer questions afterward.”
The mock trial Fought said was well organized.
“We were sent scripts ahead of time so we could assign some of the kid’s parts,” she said. “They were prepared with their lines and the judge and prosecutor was right there to instruct and support the students.”
The second part of the event was a couple of law enforcement demonstrations that took place at the Othello Police Department. One involved the Moses Lake Police K-9 Unit and the other had students wearing fatal vision goggles that simulated different levels of intoxication.
“They had the kids put on the goggles and then gave them tennis balls and told them to toss them back and forth to each other,” said Donna Shestock who also teaches fifth grade at Hiawatha. “The goggles made them unsteady so there was no way they could were going to catch them. We even had them try and pick up the balls, but they couldn’t do that either. A couple of them asked me, is this how it (the effects of alcohol) really works Mrs. Shestock? It really hit home with them how them… how alcohol can impair your vision.”
Educator Nicki Wilkins at Hiawatha said Law Days provided a positive experience for all the students that attended the event.
“Some of the kids have some apprehension when it comes to court proceedings and law enforcement because they come from a background where they are unfamiliar with the duties of court officials and police officers,” Wilkins said. “But all of the students enjoyed the opportunity to get to know them a bit and see how their interaction really promotes positivity in our community and how they help strengthen our local government.”
Wilkins added that many of her students are at the stage in life where they are beginning to dream about what they want to be when they grow up. And that Law Day has provided an opportunity for them to see a couple of avenues they could pursue.
“One of the girls said after giving it some thought, she could become a prosecutor someday and really help out the community.”
Palubicki hopes to make Othello Law Days an annual after getting such a great response from the schools, the Adams County District Court, the Sheriff’s Office, the OPD and the Washington State Patrol.
“It was an amazing day. The kids were really inspired,” Fought said. “I heard several of them say I want to be a cop when I grow up or this was the best field trip I’ve ever had…. and they’ve been to the zoo in Seattle so that’s really saying something.”