The Sarnia Police Service (SPS) is looking for teens to participate in a new endeavor.
SPS is partnering with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to provide the Youth In Policing Initiative (YIPI).
It's a paid employment opportunity for four youths between the ages of 15 and 18.
Sarnia Police Deputy Chief Julie Craddock said it's an opportunity to bring young people into the community.
"(This will) provide them with employment and to really build the relationship between police and young people in the community," she said.
To participate in the program youth must be attending a secondary school program, live in Sarnia, not have any criminal charges before the courts and be available for the eight week program.
Craddock said SPS decided to have this program and move away from traditional youth crime portfolios.
"We've really moved into a youth engagement and diversion model, looking at diversion as the first step in order to connect young people that are in conflict with the law with opportunities to connect with services to help them make better life choices," she said.
Craddock added the second part of that is to engage with young people.
A YIPI Coordinator has been hired and will assist with administrative duties and planning related to the program.
Craddock said what recruitment will look like is still being discussed because it's a new program for the service.
The police service will look at sharing the program with community partners, the Aamjiwnaang community officer and through other stakeholder contacts.
Craddock added this will be a permanent program to the service, which in the future could increase from four positions.
"The expectation that we're going to have is that they do community engagement initiatives, crime prevention initiatives, that they are visible in the community, they're representing the Sarnia Police Service and really looking at building their own skill sets," Craddock said.
The program will run for eight weeks from July 2 until August 23.