A career in law enforcement gives graduates an opportunity to help shape the next generation of police and federal officers.

A number of officers including police community relations officers, state troopers and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents were recently involved in a summer police academy, where they passed on their experiences and insights to a group of 25 students aged 12 to 16, app.com reports.

The six-day academy included lessons on traffic safety and crime scene investigation, physical training and talks about the job requirements of Swat teams and of DEA special agents.

"We tried to give them little tidbits of everything - from myself, as a community relations officer, to a helicopter landing in a field," patrolman Ronnie Steppat said.

Special agent Douglas Collier, who outlined the work of the DEA to the youngsters, stressed the importance of high school and college education for those seeking a career in law enforcement.

State trooper Adam Wrede, a State Police helicopter pilot, also emphasized the benefits of education while answering questions about his job.

"The more education, the better," he said.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 861,000 police and detective jobs in the US in 2006. Average earnings for these posts were $47,460 with variations by specific duties and location.