45°
The Mahwah Junior Police Academy (JPA) is a 2 week long summer program dedicated to exposing the children of Mahwah to the training to become a real police officer.
The academy is open to all Mahwah students who have successfully completed the fifth grade DARE program.
This program has established a strong foundation over the years as a long term support for police and community relationship building.
The JPA provides participants with a camp experience while building an understanding of policing techniques, police policy and procedure, leadership ethics, teamwork and effective communication.
It introduces recruits to techniques used by law enforcement when making arrests for drunk driving, conducting searches and fingerprinting.
Recruits also are exposed to how police treat high speed tactical car chases, by accompanying officers driving on a closed track. A high impact part of the program simulates the dangerous experience of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Recruits, accompanied by an officer, drive a golf cart while wearing special goggles which simulate the distorting, confusing images a drunk driver experiences, giving recruits a first hand view of the risks in driving under the influence of alcohol.
Recruits wear uniforms, are responsible to arrive on time daily and are expected to take notes on their training and experiences.
Field trips to the Military Academy at West Point, the US Coast Guard Station in Staten Island and the Bergen County Police Academy are used to show recruits institutions where respect, discipline and honor are embedded in the daily activities.
Click here for registration information.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahwah-Ramsey and receive free news updates.
