Union City is getting a jump-start in preparing for the next generation of law enforcement with their annual Junior Police Academy, now in its sixth year.
Sponsored through the Department of Public Safety, the Junior Police Academy is a week-long program that gives students from sixth through eighth grades an introduction to the criminal justice system and extensive overview of law enforcement.
Since the co-ed program has continued to grow every year, and due to the overwhelming interest from kids all over the city, the program has been extended into two weeks to accommodate 100 new registered cadets. “Due to the [positive] feedback, we have actually doubled the program this year,” said Officer Silfredo Lopez, program coordinator. The Junior Police Academy will run from July 16 to 21, and from July 23 to 28. There will be a group of 50 for each week. “Most of the kids are new [to the Junior Police Academy],” said Lopez. “We try to give as many kids the opportunity to participate.” Any kids that participated in the academy in the past can apply to be put on the waiting list in case there is room available. Future of public safety
The academy introduces young people not only to law enforcement careers, but other related fields such as fire and rescue, and emergency medical services. “Some of the kids are involved in it because they are interested in becoming officers in the future,” said Lopez. “I want to be a police officer when I grow up because I like to help people,” said Shannon Perez, 13, last year. “[This program] has been fun, enjoyable, and we’ve learned a lot about respect, teamwork, and responsibility.” However, whether seeking a career in public safety or not, the program inspires these cadets to become good citizens and productive members of society by enforcing discipline, responsibility, and teamwork. “This program also reinforces the relationship between the kids and law enforcement,” said Lopez. “We introduce law enforcement to the kids at fifth grade level through the Dare Program, and we want to maintain a certain level of communication with the students.” The cadets will meet on Monday through Friday at the 39th Street Pavilion from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and will start off their mornings with exercise drills and marching drills before going into educational academy training, which covers various topics from avoiding the gang lifestyle, to etiquette, and proper diet and nutrition. “We give them etiquette classes, teach them how to march, and run exercise drills,” said Lopez. “We also give them a CPR class and teach pool safety.” “This is my first year being here and it’s great,” said Eduardo Ayala, 14, last year. “It gives kids something to do during the day, and I’ve learned about discipline and respect.” They also have an introduction into sports to learn about teamwork. In addition, eight Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) from Emerson High School will be on hand to assist the three officers running the program. Some of these junior officers are also past graduates of the academy. According to the main website, the Junior ROTC program is a national program implemented into high schools to teach students the value of citizenship, leadership, service to the community, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment. The program is also a component to promote graduation from high school. Last year, the Junior ROTC program at Emerson had ten graduates, three of which went to the military, and seven that went on college. “These programs seem to give kids a foundation,” said Lopez. Real-life experience
Academy training includes field trips to Hudson County Correctional Facility in Kearny and a trip to the Mahwah Police Academy. “We take them to the Mahwah Police Academy and they give us a demonstration of various weapons at the firing range,” said Lopez. In addition, as part of the public safety aspect of the program, the students also participate in a demonstration of how fire works and how heat rises, which is conducted in at the academy. During their visit to Hudson County Correctional, the cadets are given a tour of the jail including the cell areas, and what the inmates have access to. “It’s a sensitive situation because they see how the prisoners are isolated from society,” said Lopez. They are also taught about gangs and the consequences of joining that lifestyle. “You get a taste of what can happen, if you are not a productive citizen,” said Lopez. In addition, the security staff at Hudson County Correctional also arrange for students to talk to some of the prisoners and ask questions. “We try to squeeze in as much as possible to give them a small insight [into all areas of public safety],” said Lopez. “[Upon completing the program] they have a positive outlook because of the experience, and it makes them more respectful and more courteous.” Towards the end of the week, as a special treat for their hard work, the cadets are taken on a leisure trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. The Junior Police Academy, which can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 to run, is funded mainly through private donations, as well as from the Brian P. Stack Civic Association. One of their major private donations this year came from Emerson High School teacher Nivia Rojas, who has backed the program annually and this year contributed toward the cost of uniforms and field trips. Nothing is taken out of the operational budget of the Union City Police Department. Jessica Rosero can be reached at jrosero@hudsonreporter.com