Teen Police Academy Student Hailed Hero

Congratulations to Free State High School senior Adrian Mendoza, who is being credited with saving a woman’s life thanks to skills he learned at the Lawrence Kansas Police Department’s Teen Police Academy.

Mendoza was working after school at a local independent living center when he noticed a woman choking and another person struggling to help. Relying on his training, he sprang into action, correctly performing the Heimlich maneuver and dislodging the blockage.

“It was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life, to be honest,” Mendoza said. “It’s hard to describe. It’s like achieving a goal, but then you realize it’s more than just a goal. You’re letting another human being continue to live.”

The LKPD Teen Police Academy runs for two weeks each summer and is open to anyone ages 14-18. Students get an inside look at the police profession, learn defensive tactics, and become certified in life-saving techniques like CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.