Foreign exchange student group honors Tri-City leaders

Two Tri-City law and justice leaders were recognized Tuesday for their efforts to educate foreign exchange students about America’s criminal justice system.

Marcella Hansen, community coordinator for PAX-Program for Academic Exchange for the past 11 years, praised Kennewick police Chief Ken Hohenberg and his department and Benton County District Court Judge Joe Borrowes for donating their time for the past several years to the visiting students about law and order in the United States.

“They really help a lot of these students understand in our country police are helpful where other countries have corruption and dishonesty,” said Hansen.

Hansen said the group of high school students annually visit the Kennewick police station and Burrowes’ courtroom, including trying on the judge’s robes, to get “a better understanding of how our system works here.”

The police department and its chief and Burrowes received certificates of appreciation for their efforts.

This year, Tri-City families are hosting eight students from Turkey, Republic of Georgia, Tunisia, Spain, China, Lebanon, Thailand and India.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Foreign exchange student group honors Tri-City leaders."