Harrison Police Junior Police Academy: A Week of Learning and Growth

The week of July 24, 2023, marked an important milestone for the Harrison Police Department as they hosted the Junior Police Academy. This program, which has a rich history across the nation, aims to foster community responsibility among young citizens and public servants. The Junior Police Academy (JPA) is a nationwide program with a 20-year history of emphasizing community responsibility among young citizens and public servants. The program is designed to strengthen the connection between law enforcement and local youth by giving them a chance to see what it is like to be a police officer.

The History of Junior Police Academy Programs

The Junior Police Academy programs have been active across the nation for over two decades. These programs aim to bring the community closer to Police officers and create a bridge between young residents and law enforcement. From the reaction of the students who attended the Junior Police Academy this week, the Harrison program reached its goals. For the students interested in a career related to law enforcement, the academy offers a glimpse into their potential futures.

The Junior Police Academy programs typically include physical training tailored to each age group, team-building concepts, military drills, practical crime scene investigations, and hands-on instruction with various units. The program also includes field trips to various law enforcement facilities and operations. The Harrison Police Junior Police Academy included all of the above.

The Harrison NJ Police Junior Police Academy

The Harrison Police Department's Junior Police Academy was a week-long event filled with learning, growth, and community building. The week started on Monday, July 24, 2023, with 46 Cadets reporting for duty. The day consisted of physical training, drill and ceremony, and learning the functions of patrol and the crime suppression unit.

On Tuesday, the cadets were visited by members of the Hudson County Regional SWAT Team and The Crime Scene Unit of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. The SWAT Team taught the cadets about their daily functions and showed off some of their equipment. The Crime Scene Unit taught the cadets how to dust for fingerprints.

Wednesday brought a special visit from the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit. The troopers landed their helicopter inside Franklin D. Roosevelt Park (aka Library Park) lawn and spoke to the cadets about the daily functions that the aviation unit is tasked with^.

Thursday was another exciting day with the Harrison Fire Department providing the cadets with some fun-filled activities and showing off all of their cool equipment. The cadets were also given a tour of the Newark Police Department's Mounted Section and got to meet the police horses.

The week concluded on Friday with a trip to New York City and a tour of the 9/11 Memorial. It was a great day of learning and reflection on the events that transpired on September 11th, 2001.

The Junior Police Academy programs, such as the one held by the Harrison Police Department, are an excellent way to foster community policing among young citizens and public servants. They provide an opportunity for young people to learn about law enforcement and potentially spark interest in a career in this field. We applaud the students who signed up for the Junior Police Academy and for those Harrison Police Officers who planned and organized five days of very educational and inspirational programs.

This week on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, the Harrison Police Department will be holding its annual National Night Out in the Library Park from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For further information here is a link to our article on the event.  The cadets from the Harrison Junior Police Academy are going to be in attendance.  A nice opportunity to hear from them about their informative and exciting week with Harrison and other neighboring police enforcement personnel.

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 Photo Credit: Harrison Police Department