Carteret, NJ – Mayor Dan Reiman has announced that the Borough will be sponsoring the town’s 5th installment of its Youth Police Academy this spring. Established in 2003, the program challenges a select number of High School and Middle School youths with 50 hours of police oriented classroom training and physical fitness during its Saturday morning sessions.
Originally limited to local High School students, the Youth Police Academy was created to establish a sense of trust and cooperation between members of the Carteret Police Department and adolescents. Since 2003 it has evolved into much more;
“The growth in popularity of this program has been fostered by its many benefits to our young adults,” Mayor Reiman stated. “These students enroll with the intention of challenging themselves, and learning the value of establishing and meeting both short and long term goals.”
Classes begin at 8:00 a.m. Saturday mornings with physical fitness training, which is then followed by classroom instruction. Enrollment is selective, and limited to 24 students. There is no fee for the students, who are provided with fitness apparel, learning materials, and ultimately, graduation attire.
Interested students must reside in Carteret, have a minimum “C” grade point average, maintain a minimum absenteeism record as determined by the school, and posses an interest in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement. According to program instructors, the program nurtures interests and skills that could lead to related career paths.
“They provide the motivation, we provide the foundation for potential careers. For many of these youths, this program is the threshold for what lies beyond High School,” Mayor Reiman added.
Across the program’s 10-week duration, the classroom curriculum covers a number of topics related to law enforcement. These include:
- Community Oriented Policing
- Basic Patrol Operations
- Use of Force
- Arrest, Search and Seizure
- Investigative Operations
- Narcotic Investigations
- Traffic and Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Tactical Responses
- Criminal Law
- Juvenile Justice
Ultimately students are provided with an enhanced understanding and working knowledge of their local Police Department and the Criminal Justice System, but according to Mayor Reiman, they graduate with a little more:
“I like to think that each year, our Youth Police Academy students graduate with more self-esteem than they enrolled with. Certainly they will be healthier, and have a better understanding of law enforcement. But these ambitious young men and women will also come away with values and skills that will remain with them no matter what career path they choose.”
