Morris Twp., Morris Plains Teens to Learn Handcuffing, Police Drills

Twenty-nine teens will be going on a tour of the Morris County Correctional Facility and getting a chance to chat with Detective Ken Hogan, who was shot in the head while assigned to Irvington Police. 

Starting Monday, Morris Township Police Department is starting the first annual Tri-Morris Junior Police Academy. The students' graduation is July 19.

“I brought the idea to Chief McGuinness when he assigned me to the Crime Prevention Unit,” said Ptl. Heather Jones of the Crime Prevention Unit of Morris Township Police Dept. “Other police departments conduct them, and I wanted to start one here. He was extremely supportive and then with … the rest of the committee’s support I ran with it.”

She added that the reason it is “Tri-Morris” is because their students all come together through the Morris School District.

Jones, Officer DeAnna Dietrich of the Morristown Police Department and Sgt Michael Koroski of the Morris Plains Police Department gave presentations to eighth-graders throughout the three municipalities.

“The graduating eighth-graders collectively, for the most part, will be entering Morristown High School in the fall,” said Jones. “The three of us all have the same belief in regards to community service and interacting with the youth within our communities positively. Good relationships are the foundation for a positive future. I could not have asked for two better people to establish this junior academy with than Officer Dietrich and Sgt Koroski. The three of us comprise the lead instructors for the junior academy.”

The program has a curriculum that mirrors the 22-week Basic Police Recruit Class at the Morris County Police Academy.

“We have instructors from different agencies assisting with certain areas of expertise,” said Jones giving the following examples:

• Russ Hatzel from Mt Olive PD will be teaching defensive tactics and handcuffing to recruits.
• Agent Gary Gouck of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office will be helping with a crash re-creation where they will teach the recruits about skid marks and crush factor and so on.
• Detective Ken Hogan who was shot in the head while assigned to Irvington Police is coming in to talk to the recruits about officer safety and the survival mentality.
• They are going for a tour of the Morris County Correctional Facility and so much more.

“We are all extremely excited for the academy to commence. It will be a 2-week program that begins July 8 with 29 recruits enrolled,” said Jones. “Inspection, drill, physical training, and educational, interactive curriculum will make up the whole academy.”