MMA, Junior Police Academy Leader Sgt. Curtis Retirement: "Will Be Missed"

Sergeant Robert Curtis, a 15-year veteran of the Mahwah township police force, has retired as of the end of July.

Curtis worked with the Mahwah Municipal Alliance for several children and youth programs. He also first implemented the town’s highly successful Junior Police Academy in 2001, originally as just a one-week program that has grown to over 200 graduates of this year’s program.

A tribute was posted on the Mahwah Municipal Alliance (MMA) Facebook page, which said, ”We wish Rob Curtis and his family the very best in life, as he retires from the Mahwah Police Department and moves onto a new career. He has served our community with dignity and honour. The MMA will miss you, and the legacy you have created for these academies will carry on.”

Mahwah Council member Lisa DiGiulio attended the recent Junior Police Academy graduation on July 18, and praised Curtis for what she witnessed at the event.

“It was an amazing thing to see Sgt. Curtis and the other police officers, many who were once Mahwah kids themselves including Curtis, bonding with the kids, and showing them how to be great leaders. With what is happening in the world these days, we can proud in Mahwah of what Sgt. Curtis, the Mahwah Police Department, and the MMA have done with reaching out to these kids.”

Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli further commended Curtis’ work with Mahwah’s youth.

“The bond that Rob and the other officers built with the children and the life lessons learned is a value that can’t be measured in dollars and cents,” Batelli said.

“Rob worked tirelessly to make these academies the success they are, and I don’t think many people realize the work that goes into them,” Mayor Laforet said during the graduation ceremony.

Curtis is a graduate of Mahwah High School, and was hired by the Mahwah Police Department in 1993. He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2012. He served as Dare officer and Student Resource Officer during his career. Along with the Junior Police Academy, Curtis was responsible for founding the Leadership Academy.