Junior Police Academy Graduates 70 Students

Seventy graduates donned summer police Polo shirts Friday afternoon for the 10th  annual West Orange Police Department Junior Police Academy graduation at Liberty Middle School.

Sgt. John Morella, the director of the week-long academy, said the program started with a $3,000 budget in 2000 from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission and now nets $20,000 in grants from Essex County.

"We started a school resource officer program 11 years ago and researched a program like this," he said. "It's now grown … and other towns such as Wayne and Roxbury are modeling the program."

In addition to the one-week academy where West Orange-only participants ages 11-14 learn the different facets of policing, graduates also attend trips to amusement parks and other outlets around the state during the remainder of the summer.

Kaitlyn Spitzer, 14, a lifetime resident of West Orange and a second-year junior police academy graduate, said she joined the program because she wants to go into a protection career.

"I wanted to do it and I have an interest in protecting people," she said. "Our neighbors tried it, told us about it and whether it's in law enforcement, a firefighter or even at the zoo, I just want to protect something."

The West Orange High School eighth grader also received one of two motivation awards during the program. These awards are rocks painted by the junior academy students and the students vote for the recipients.

Keith Holley, the academy's only drill instructor during its 10-year existence and a West Orange Police Department school resource officer, said he got involved with the program after being a drill instructor in the U.S. Marine Corps.

"We did away with the Junior Explorer program and managed to secure grants for this one," he said.

For Kosi Amaefuna, 13, this was his last year in the academy due to the age limit.

"I started two years ago and it's been fantastic," he said. "I've learned a lot of different commands and police units such as SWAT and K9."

Amaefuna also performed the ceremony's national anthem. His sister, Chisom Amaefuna, went through the academy for three years and had to stop because of age, but is proud of her younger brother.

"He did a great job and to sing in front of a crowd like that is great," she said.

Kofi said, though, he doesn't plan to enter the law enforcement field. "I'm thinking more medical," he said.