A young Sverdlovsk resident has been preparing for three years to join the ranks of the traffic police (PHOTO)

      For three years, officers of the State Traffic Inspectorate of the "Shalinsky" police department have been helping a schoolboy to one day stand alongside them. Roman, from the settlement of Ilim, dreams of becoming a traffic police inspector, the State Traffic Inspectorate of Russia for the Sverdlovsk Region reports.

      The road police take Roman's aspiration seriously — they hold career guidance meetings for him, explain the intricacies of the service, and give him the opportunity to see the work from the inside. Recently the support reached a new level — the boy was given a real duty day as part of a traffic patrol crew.

      Under the guidance of experienced mentors, including head of the Traffic Inspectorate division, Police Captain Anatoly Burtsev, the boy took part in a preventive patrol. In one day he learned how to properly stop vehicles, communicate with drivers politely and confidently, check documents with attention to detail, and understand how every action of an inspector affects road safety.

      "When a child has for several years consistently been interested in your profession — it's no longer just a childhood hobby. We see in Roman determination and a proper understanding of our work," said Police Captain Anatoly Burtsev. "Therefore we help him not just to dream, but to take concrete steps toward his future profession. He has already learned a lot, and we will be glad to see him among our ranks when he completes his education."