Youth Academy Experiences

Cory Vanzant, Trooper

Since I was in the sixth grade I have wanted to be a Colorado State Trooper.  My school resource officer told me about the youth academy and encouraged me to look into the opportunity.  I attended the academy right after I graduated from high school.  This opened my eyes in a way I can’t explain.  The excitement the instructors had in teaching the academy brought out enthusiasm in us all.  I especially enjoyed the driving, arrest control, and shooting aspects.  As a teenager, who wouldn’t love this?  Staying in the dorms gave me the perspective of what it is like to actually stay on campus and attend training.  I never knew how important it was to make your bed the “correct” way, not the way I made it at home.  I made several friends that week.  We all shared the same passion for law enforcement. 

After attending the academy I knew the importance of staying focused and not giving into peer pressure.  This was probably the most valuable lesson I learned.  I was anxious to start my law enforcement career.  As soon as I turned twenty-one an opening came up at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and I soon became a Deputy.  I spent the next three years as a Deputy, but I always remembered back to my experiences from the youth academy.  I noticed how law enforcement agencies respected the State Patrol’s professionalism, and the importance they played in traffic safety.  At that point I knew I needed to become a State Trooper.