“The helicopter was interesting, because we got to see how the medics help the people who got hurt,” said Sarah Usman, a seventh grader from McKinley Elementary School, one of approximately 20 middle schoolers who spent a week training in North Bergen’s Junior Police Academy. The training program ran from Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22, and was designed for sixth through eighth graders who are interested in joining police or military.
The kids spent the week doing physical training, marching, going to the Freedom Tower, climbing aboard a medical helicopter, and more.
“This is something the kids are interested in. It’s not something their parents signed them up for.” — Joe Sitty
____________
“It was an experience for kids,” Junior Police Academy Instructor and retired North Bergen Police Officer Joe Sitty said. “They got to see what the prisoners live like.” The group went into cell blocks to speak with prisoners about their experiences.
“The officers can’t control what these prisoners say,” Sitty added, “but they sent the same teamwork message that [the police taught] throughout the week.”
Sitty said, “We didn’t want to scare the kids, but they saw a different side of law enforcement where officers are protecting the rights of inmates in there.”
North Bergen Police Officers showed the academy another teamwork strategy at the North Bergen Police Department shooting range during firearm safety training.
At the range, Deputy Chief Peter Fasilis showed the kids different weapons (from a distance) and conducted and a walkthrough demonstration with four officers.
Returning student Delia Recinos said the activities were different compared to last year.
“We went to new places like One World Observatory, and we didn’t go last year,” Recinos said. At One World Observatory in New York (a.k.a. the Freedom Tower or World Trade Center), students went to the top of the tower and had professional group pictures taken. After that the group headed over to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to learn about 9/11 and visit the gift shop.
Each day, the group had physical training that consisted of workouts, and they marched with members of the National Guard.
“My favorite was the morning training,” said seventh grader Amanda Pace of Franklin Middle School. Pace said that she’s interested in joining the North Bergen Police Department when she gets older.
The kids also got to visit a helicopter from Hackensack Medical Center called MedAir 1. They talked with the pilot and the EMTs on standby.
“We had a fire truck and EMTs from the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue on standby in case anything happened, but to also teach the kids about teamwork,” Sitty said. “We want to stress the importance of teamwork to make work easier for everyone. The helicopter showed them that the EMTs and Police Department work hand in hand.”
Sitty added, “This isn’t something a normal kid would experience unless enrolled in the Academy. This is something the kids are interested in; it’s not something their parents signed them up for.”
After the helicopter landing students enjoyed pizza, volleyball, basketball, and swimming.
The Junior Police Academy has run in North Bergen for five years, and Mayor Nicholas Sacco said it will continue.
“It’s a great program that students enjoy. They get a viewpoint of the Police Department and get involved,” Sacco said.
Samantha Meyers can be reached at samantham@hudsonreporter.com .