Unique Cadet Graduates From Red Bank Police Dept.

RED BANK, NJ — Ivan Aguirre, a 21-year-old man from Red Bank, is one of five graduates of a first-of-its-kind program in the state: Where young people with special needs spend sixteen weeks training with members of law enforcement.

The five young men selected for the pilot program are from Monmouth County, and they were placed for internships with police departments in Marlboro Twp., Red Bank, Eatontown, Holmdel and the office of Monmouth County Prosecutor Chris Gramiccioni.

The young men have a range of special needs, from autism to cerebral palsy.

Aguirre has cerebral palsy. He was paired with Red Bank Police Officer George Travostino, who served as his mentor.

"It was such a great experience," said Travostino. "This whole experience gave him a boost in confidence. Ivan was wonderful to work with. He came to work every day with a smile on his face."

The young man did a range of jobs, including clerical work, and worked security for the Red Bank municipal court. He liked the security aspect so much that he is now applying for other jobs in the area, said his family. The cadet internship was unpaid. But all the young men who completed it will receive up to five letters of recommendation from local judges, police chiefs and the county prosecutor.

"He enjoyed the security part so much that we are trying to get him a job in security at the Count Basie Theater," said his sister Maria Aguirre-Perez. "We have a brother who is a U.S. Marine and Ivan looks up to him so much, so he wants to work in that area."

Ivan attended Red Bank public schools and also volunteers with the Red Bank Fire Department.

"This whole experience has been so good for him," said his sister. "Before doing this, Ivan felt very low. But now he feels like he can do anything and anything is possible. We know anything is possible in the future for Ivan."

Monmouth County held a moving ceremony for the cadet graduates Wednesday morning, and many in the audience had tears in their eyes as the young man stood proudly with their certificates.

The program was coordinated by the Arc of New Jersey, a leading advocate for the developmentally disabled. It was Arc that approached Prosecutor Gramiccioni, and asked if Monmouth County police departments would like to get involved. He said yes.

But state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, who attended the ceremony today, said he hopes other police departments in New Jersey follow.

"In the words of the great Robert Hensel, we need to not focus on disabilities but rather capabilities," said Gramiccioni as the ceremony concluded Wednesday. "That is a great lesson that your sons have taught us. I can tell you our agencies are better off for having your sons for the past sixteen weeks. To serve something greater than yourself is the definition of public service."