Union County Sheriff Ralph Froehlich announced this week the 6th Annual Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy is now accepting applications for its 2013 summer class.
The free program is designed to provide youths the opportunity to gain insight into the everyday functions and training of the variety of law enforcement agencies and emergency services. It operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.
“The Youth Academy aims to teach our kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Sheriff Froehlich said.
The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average) and a one page letter of reference from a non-family member.
The two-week program for middle school and high school students meets daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains.
The class for 7th and 8th graders runs July 15-26. The high school class for grades 9 through 12 will take place from July 29 until August 9.
During the first week of the program, the teens engage in a physical training regime twice a day while attending lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations and motor vehicle stops. They also receive visits from representatives from several branches of the military, New Jersey State Police and the Secret Service.
The second week of the Youth Academy involves visiting various Sheriff’s Office operations around the county including the K-9 Search and Rescue Unit, the Fugitive Unit and Courthouse Complex Security.
Last year more than 80 students from across Union County graduated from the Sheriff’s Youth Academy.
For applications or more information contact Sheriff’s Officer Tara Halpin at 908-527-4032. Applications can also be downloaded at www.ucnj.org/government/sheriff/sheriffs-youth-academy/.
Completed applications should be sent to the attention of: S/O Tara Halpin, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Administration Building, 1st Floor, 10 Elizabethtown Plaza, Elizabeth, NJ 07207.