The Summit Police Department is announcing upcoming dates for its 2022 Youth Academy. Two, one-week sessions will be held from July 18 to July 22 and July 25 to July 29 from 8AM to 3PM daily and are open to children ages 11 to 14. Applications will be accepted now through April 1, and are available online, at the Summit Police Department in City Hall, and in the main office at Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School.
Now in its seventeenth season, the popular program provides area youth with an opportunity to develop an understanding of the role of the Police Officer in the community. Modeled after actual Police Academy curriculum, recruits undergo physical training, drill and ceremony training, instruction in criminal investigation techniques, and evidence recovery and patrol practices. Cadets visit the Union County Police Academy and attend demonstrations from the Union County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, Union County S.W.A.T. Team and Bomb Squad.
Cadets are provided an official Summit Police Youth Academy uniform to wear during the session. Upon successful completion of the program, cadets participate in a graduation ceremony and receive a certificate of completion, official Summit Police Youth Academy patch, and DVD with photos taken during their session.
Admission to the program is on a rolling basis with preference given to Summit residents who are first-time applicants; former recruits and out-of-town applicants may be placed on a waiting list. To be considered, a tuition fee of $100 must accompany each application. A limited number of scholarships are available to those experiencing financial hardship.
For more information, please contact Juvenile Detective Sean Thompson at sthompson@spdnj.org, (908) 598-2114 or Administrative Assistant Lauren Montanya at lmontanya@spdnj.org, (908) 277-9473.