5 county Criminal Justice Career Day connects teens with future
MUSKEGON: Students from Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, Van Buren, and Newaygo Career Schedule for CJ Career DayTech Centers will interact with representatives from 35 local police, fire, courts, corrections, and emergency personnel, as well as college and military representatives, during the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center’s (MACTC) Criminal Justice Career Day. The event will take place Thursday, March 30, 2017, at the MACTC located at 630 Harvey Street in Muskegon. It will include a career fair, demonstrations, breakout sessions with agency leaders, and wrap up with keynote speaker First Lieutenant Robert Hendrix from the Michigan State Police headquarters in Lansing.
“Our goal is to exhibit local, state, and federal police and fire agencies, courts, corrections, military, and collegiate programs to students interested in the Public Safety disciplines,” said MACTC Criminal Justice Instructor Karen Reynolds.
MACTC Criminal Justice students have played an integral part in planning and organizing the event. Students recommended many of the 35 agencies that will be represented at the show. Second-year students will even practice leadership skills during the event by using an Incident Command System, similar to an organized plan used by professional first responders, to keep the event running smoothly.
The first of two breakout sessions will include a panel of local emergency services executives moderated by MACTC students. Questions for the panel will include what qualifications they are looking for from candidates, and how students can begin preparing now. The second session will be a Police K-9 demonstration featuring Deputy Jamie Ottinger and canine deputy “Rex” of the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Department.
“Many students have expressed an interest in speaking to the colleges, State police, Department of Natural Resources, and federal law-enforcement agencies that will be attending,” shared Criminal Justice Parapro Mark Lewis. “We anticipate that the tactical teams will draw a big crowd as well.”
To learn more about the Criminal Justice program, and others offered at the MACTC, visit www.muskegoncareertech.com. 
