UPDATE: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Blood, D-N-A and fingerprints? Sounds like a scene straight out of CSI, but it was actually just another night for participants in the Meridian Township Police Department's Youth Citizens' Academy.

"One of the segments we did tonight was the crime scene investigation portion of it," said Greg Harris, Investigator for Meridian Township Police Department. "And we explained how we handle crime scenes and what our role is as Meridian Township Police Officers and CSI."

Some of the youth were happy for the opportunity to see what life is like for family members.

"What I mostly enjoy about it is how we get to learn about what all the cops do and how they do it," said Hunter Dawson, participant. "My dads a cop, so it interests me to learn more about what he does."

The goal of the Academy is for students to take away a real life perspective.

"I hope they realize that reality is much different than television for the most part when they see things like tv shows and movies," said Harris. "The reality of the situation is much more low tech."

And some students most definitely are grasping the concept of it.

"I get to do it hands on and like see what they actually use instead of watching tv shows," said Dawson.

But overall, the main things is that people know their local police officers.

"It's very important I think for people to understand what their police departments do and why they do what they do," said Harris.

The Academy is offered twice a year...one for adults and one for youth.

ORIGINAL STORY: MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Here how youth get a chance to work with police officers on Meridian Magazine and Beyond the badge.