By Joe Smillie

Forum Editor

The first class of four in the Forks Police Department’s new cadet academy wound up with a busy initiation.

After an initial training session July 2, the squad donned police jackets to toss out candy at the Old-Fashioned Fourth of July parade Thursday.

They were later assigned crowd control duties at Tillicum Park festivities and at the demolition derby on Independence Day night.

“They’re great kids,” Police Administrator Rick Bart said. “They put in a good hard day’s work Thursday.”

Seven signed up for the cadet class, he said, but summer vacation schedules prompted three to miss the initiation.

Bart said Monday morning he met with members of the Forks Elks club in an effort to get a $2,000 grant to buy uniforms for the cadets.

The academy’s next class will be in August.

For more information, or to sign up, contact the police department, 374-2223.