Lacey Police Need Recruits For The Junior Police Academy

The Lacey Township Police Department wants you.

The department will be hosting a five-day Junior Police Academy beginning on July 10, 2017 through July 14.

Potential recruits must be seventh grade graduates entering the eighth grade. The department will accept 30 applicants for the program.

Junior recruits will participate in many phases of crime scene investigations, tactical operations, traffic safety, drug awareness and narcotic investigations. A junior recruit will also be asked to participate in daily physical training and military etiquette.

The requirements for the Junior Police Academy include:

• The potential recruit shall complete an essay detailing why he or she should be chosen for the Junior Police Academy
• The potential recruit shall submit a completed application
• The potential recruit must maintain an outstanding moral and ethical character at all times
• The potential recruit must demonstrate the willingness to participate in physical training and investigations

A Competitive Process:

"We anticipate reaching our capacity and will be unable to accommodate all applicants," Cornelius said. 'Therefore, the limited positions we have available will be very competitive."

The selection process will include a review of the submitted essays and recommendations from the Lacey Township Middle School staff. Parents will receive notification by mail inviting them to a mandatory meeting. The meeting will provide parents and recruits with information aboutthe rules, regulations, and academy schedule. A formal application for the Junior Police Academy will be provided.

Essays must be dropped off at the Lacey Township Police Department, located at 808 W. Lacey Road in Forked River, by April 1. Please include name, address, and telephone number.

Selected recruits will wear a daily uniform that will be supplied by the academy. The provided uniforms will include two t-shirts and two athletic shorts. The recruits will be required to wear athletic sneakers each day. A collared graduation shirt will be provided and must be worn with khaki colored pants.
The cost of the Academy is $150 which includes the uniforms, water bottle, daily lunch, graduation shirt, and graduation dinner for three.

The Junior Police Academy graduation ceremony will be held at the Lacey Township High School at 6 p.m. on July 14. The recruit and two guests are invited to the ceremony where the recruit will be presented with a graduation certificate. Dinner will be provided for the recruit and their guests after the ceremony.

The training provided to the recruits during the Junior Police Academy will include:

• Crime Scene Training
• Court Room Testimony
• Evidence Collection and Processing
• Traffic and Criminal Law
• Arrest, Search, and Seizure
• Interview and Interrogation
• Cyber Crimes and Social Media
• Physical Fitness

Please note that the Lacey Township Junior Police Academy is not a program for "at risk/troubled youth." An applicant cannot have any previous arrests or disciplinary issues. A recruit must be able to work independently and with other recruits, academy instructors, and police officers.

Those who can't maintain the high standard of discipline, commitment, and integrity that the academy demands, will be dismissed from the program.

If anyone has any questions in regard to the Lacey Township Junior Police Academy you may contact Detective Lieutenant Christopher Cornelius at 609-693-6636 ext. 2566.

Image: Lacey Township Police Department