The Newton Youth Public Safety Academy that was held earlier this month was a success, according to city staff. Twenty-one kids who were eager to learn about being a first responder participated in the four-day event. During the academy, Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess says the students were given a tour of both the Police Department and the Fire Department, and were shown the equipment that police officers and firefighters use on a daily basis. At the Newton Police Department, the Academy participants did several hands-on activities, such as dusting for fingerprints and using handcuffs. Chief Burdess adds a TASER demonstration was given to the students by the department’s TASER instructor, Officer Randy Oldfield, which included how the TASER works and seeing it deployed into a target. At the Newton Fire Department, the kids were taught the fundamentals of CPR, and were able to test out different lifting devices that are frequently used.