New London - Nick Galarza approached the driver's side of a forest green Dodge Intrepid, ready to explain to the driver, who was clocked doing 40 mph in a school zone, why he pulled him over.

But he made a critical mistake - he put himself in danger by positioning himself in front of the driver's door instead of behind it.

"I want to be in law enforcement, and now I have the chance to try a scenario and see where and why I messed up," said Galarza, 17. "Now I know where to stand and how to conduct a traffic stop, but there's so much more to learn."

Wearing navy blue T-shirts with "New London Police Department Youth Academy" printed in bright yellow letters across the back, Galarza and 16 fellow New London High School students are participating in mock situations that career policemen are exposed to on the job.

The academy is conducted by school resource officer Max Bertsch, a six-year police officer for the city, with previous experience as a school resource officer at Bennie Dover Middle School and director of security at Mitchell College.

Bertsch tells his students that he hopes that in four or five years, he might walk some of them from the police station to City Hall and see them sworn in as New London police officers.

"I would love to see the New London Police Department hire New London-raised police officers. It would be an amazing thing if some of you leave this course wanting to be a New London police officer," Bertsch said. He started his own police career, he added, by taking the police officer exam in the same room where the academy is held.

Whether these students want to be police officers or not, Principal William Tommy Thompson III said that Bertsch demonstrates the sort of speaking, reading and writing skills they will need to be successful in college and in any workplace.

"We are looking beyond a high school diploma and trying to give our students an edge in an ever-competitive job market," Thompson said. "The academy exposes students to multiple career paths and empowers students. There are parallels with what we're doing with our literacy efforts, and it parallels not just the academy but the marketplace."

It is clear that Bertsch understands students. He's straightforward, approachable and passionate about his job. His door is open during the school day, and students sometimes stop in between classes to say hello.

Registration for the academy was open to all high school students, but so many students expressed interest that Bertsch hopes to hold another session in the spring.

After school Tuesday, five girls and 12 boys sat in the first two rows of a large lecture room. Pacing the length of the first row, the 42-year-old New London police officer, dressed in uniform, commanded their attention.

They are now members of Academy 1, he told them, and the first thing a person learns in the police academy is unity and teamwork.

"You won't do anything by yourself when you're here. You are to be respectful to everyone, and there won't be any negativity towards others. Support everyone and be polite," he said as he reached into a brown cardboard box and pulled out a handful of the academy T-shirts.

"Feel free to wear this on the weekends or on days when you're not coming here, but know that you not only represent yourselves, but you represent me, my department and my chief," Bertsch said. "Wear these shirts with pride, because you're all leaders, and you now have a mentor and someone you can come to when you need help."

During the 10-week academy, students are expected to build positive relationships with New London police officers, learn leadership skills by participating in various teamwork activities, become mentors to their classmates, and expand their vocabulary.

The academy also could help provide direction to students like Loraine Velez, who said she joined because she would like to become a drug and alcohol counselor.

"I see that there is a bad economy and a lot of people are turning to drugs and drinking, and I know it's not good," the 17-year-old senior said. "I know people with these issues, so eventually I want to know how to help them and people like them in the future."

When the group meets for the second time, they will learn about misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile and adult crimes, and crimes against persons, including homicide, assault and harassment.

Each week will include discussions and a practical skill session, where students get to use what they've learned in class. At the end of the 10th week, a graduation ceremony will be held.

Sophomore Tyler Talaba hopes that after the academy graduation, and his graduation from high school, he'll follow the same path as Bertsch.

"I see what the police officers do around here and I like it," Talaba said. "I want to be a New London police officer. I've lived here all my life. I love New London; I wouldn't want to go anywhere else."

j.hanckel@theday.com