Mahwah’s Junior Police Academy To Graduate Tenth Class Of Cadets

For the past two weeks, a group of 236 rising sixth graders got a taste of what it is like to be a Mahwah police officer.

This year’s tenth annual Junior Police Academy is “basically a microcosm of what we go through for six months at the police academy,” Officer Joe Horn, a teacher at the camp, said.

Kids have spent the past two weeks learning about the ins and outs of daily life as an officer, engage in hands-on simulation scenarios, and get to know Mahwah officers.

“I can’t tell you how many kids I know on a first-name basis,” Horn said.

“I think it’s important for them to feel more comfortable with us, and knowing that they can come to a police officer if something is wrong.”

In addition to learning how to protect citizens, go on patrol, and deal with the “bad guys who break the rules,” students also pick up some important lessons that officers hope they will take with them through middle and high school.

Camper Sara Donnellan and her friends said their favorite activity at camp was wearing goggles that simulate what it is like to drive under the influence of alcohol.

“I couldn’t believe how crazy everything looked, and how I really couldn’t see anything the way I usually do,” she said.

To celebrate the completion of the camp, which costs families $225 per child, the academy will hold a graduation ceremony and dinner at Ramapo Ridge, and post graduation celebration at the Superdome in Westwood this Friday. Police Chief James Batelli said.

After this, Batelli said the PD will start preparing for its next class of cadets.

“We take a month off, and in September we start planning for next year’s Academies!”