FLEYA, which originated from New Haven, Conn., has three goals: improving the perception of law enforcement, providing a hands-on experience and illustrating the importance of agency cooperation.
The Milwaukee FBI division’s previous special-agent-in-charge, Justin Tolomeo, brought FLEYA to the city last year in a partnership with Marquette University. Once the program came to Milwaukee, Marquette Police Lt. Jill Weisensel wanted it to be “bigger and better.”
That meant creating the integrated case scenario, where students solve a crime from beginning to end.
On Monday, the students went through a presentation on handwriting analysis, received a 911 call and learned the case was an abduction from witnesses.
On Tuesday, students used a black light to see bodily fluids and a Hemastix to test potential blood evidence.
From Wednesday to Friday, Lee and the other students will attend briefings, go through a use-of-force simulator, tour the Milwaukee Police Department’s Academy on Teutonia Avenue and process evidence from the car.
Students go through a rigorous application process, which includes a GPA requirement, essay submission and panel interview with Marquette University and FBI personnel; at the end of the process, 15 male and 15 female students are chosen to participate.
Lee, who will be a junior at Sheboygan High School next year, said he hopes attending FLEYA will add to his existing law enforcement experience from the Sheboygan Police Explorers.