Berkeley Heights Township : Program To Strength Police & Community Connection

Press release from the Berkeley Heights Township:

May 15, 2021

The Berkeley Heights Police Department announced the launch of the Annie Young Academy, a program aimed at educating Berkeley Heights residents about police operations, in keeping the BHPD and Township's commitment to transparency into the inner workings of the police department.

"The Berkeley Heights Police Department is honored to be able to launch this program for Berkeley Heights residents in Annie Young's name," said BHPD Chief Jason Massimino. "We are aiming to enhance our relationship with the community we serve by shining a light into the operations of the police department and enhancing transparency to how we operate within this great community."  

With the racial unrest witnessed in 2020 and 2021, the Berkeley Heights Police Department doubled down on its efforts to enhance Community Policing and communication with residents of the Township. The Annie Young Academy was born out of the desire of the Berkeley Heights Police Chief Jason Massimino and the Community Policing Division to demonstrate how deescalation, unarmed tactics, practical training scenarios, use of body cameras and vehicular stops are used to ensure every resident is treated respectfully. The name of the academy was presented to the Young family several months ago as family and friends recounted that Annie rarely met anyone she did not immediately befriend, and she always worked to include everyone. The Young family stands in support of any efforts to further build the already strong connections between the BHPD and the community. 

The new Annie Young Academy is also in line with the mission of the Truth Racial Healing & Transformation Committee which has focused on ways to foster inclusivity within our community, and to strengthen ties between the BHPD and our residents as a way to increase cooperation, open communication, transparency and, above all, trust.

Read the entire story in TAPinto Berkeley Heights here

This press release was produced by the Berkeley Heights Township. The views expressed here are the author’s own.