The North Bergen Police Department is currently conducting their annual Junior Police Academy for local students in 7th & 8th grade. The JPA is designed to operate like a condensed police academy for youngsters interested in law enforcement and for students who show they have leadership skills.

 

This year’s class has 21 cadets, who began the week-long academy with an introductory address by Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual and Police Chief Robert Farley. The day also included physical training, marching drills, a tour of police headquarters, and hands-on defensive tactics and team building.

 

Tuesday included a visit to the Hudson County Police Academy, with a drill instructor demonstration, SWAT truck demo, and K9 demo, followed by a visit from Hudson, a first responder therapy dog.

 

The rest of the week is packed with more fun and educational activities like a trip to a firearms simulator in Jersey City, drone demonstration, CPR/basic first aid training, a motorcycle demonstration, lessons in crime scene investigations, fingerprinting, evidence/DNA collection, and more.

 

The objective of the JPA is to educate the cadets with various police procedures, to provide informative tours and field trips, and to give them a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to succeed in the profession of law enforcement.

 

The JPA runs for five days. The cadets engage each day in physical training consisting of various exercises. Officer Joe Sitty organizes the program with the participation of numerous NBPD officers, updating the curriculum each year with new activities.