Nearly 80 Cadets Graduate from Berkeley Heights Police Youth Academy

About 80 boys and girls in grades 6 – 8 graduated from the first annual last Friday. The cadets’ families and friends were in attendance for the formal ceremony at town hall.

The academy, created by Patrolman Jason Massimino and dedicated in memory of Captain Stephen Stamler, provided students with an inside look at local law enforcement, fostering a lasting relationship between the department and the cadets. About 20 cadets in grades 9-12 also graduated from the academy on Friday, July 27.

Chief Michael P. Mathis said the mission of the youth academy is, “to introduce the youth of Berkeley Heights to basic police practices and routines in an effort to promote understanding of law enforcement principles as well as to encourage positive interactions between the community and the police department.”

The academy familiarized the students with practices and services of the Berkeley Heights Police, FBI, Secret Service, S.W.A.T. and NJ State Police.

Topics covered during the academy included: drill and ceremony, self-defense, crime scene processing, patrol functions, traffic laws and a S.W.A.T. Team demonstration. Activities also included basic police procedures, light calisthenics, and recreational team building.

“Cadets, we couldn’t be prouder of what you represent in our township today,” Mayor Joseph Bruno said at the graduation ceremony. “You’ve had a week of training where you’ve been introduced to different aspects of law enforcement. A couple of things go along with that. You are now, by way of attending this training, leaders in our town and we expect you to act like leaders in our town and leadership is a tough thing.”

Bruno said it’s easier to say “no” to something you know is wrong when people are around. However, it’s harder to say “no” when no one is around. Bruno urged the cadets to establish their principles and stand by them. He also hopes some of them will consider a career in law enforcement when they are older.

Mathis told the cadets that he was also a cadet for the Clark Police Department as a child.

“I started as a cadet and you’re all cadets here so if any of you want to become a police officer one day, your dreams can always become a reality,” he said.

Graduates from the Police Youth Academy include:

• Catalina Abusada
• Thomas Abusada
• Connor M. Bade
• Vasant Bhardwaj
• Devon Bodnaruk
• Danny Bottone
• Noah K. Brogden
• Jarrett T. Brown
• Matthew Buryk
• Michael A. Caprio
• Bryant D. Cardona
• John M. Carlo
• Gayatri Casale
• Nicholas D. Ciraco
• Paige Collins
• Christopher Consoli
• Megan Cranston
• Joseph D. Defeo
• Briana Dyon
• Thomas O. Ericksen
• Ryan M. Erickson
• Jake Faulkner
• Declan J. Feely
• Nicholas Gamba
• Patrick H. Garrigan
• Victor Guidetti
• Noah Harder
• Brendan Hardina
• Carl L. Heer
• Patrick J. Henry
• Anton G. Kral
• Cory M. Lake
• Gia M. LaSalle
• Maya R. LaSalle
• Marcelo D. Laygo
• Zachary Martis
• Tyler McCulloch
• Stephen C. Mea
• Jacob Miller
• Zachary Miller
• James Murray
• Michael Muscarella
• Julian Natelli
• John J. Nazar
• Alec J. Palumbo
• Nicholas J. Papa
• Jason Paprocki
• Spencer W. Park
• Jack K. Pedini
• Sam Pile
• Grace Pitingolo
• Jimmy Pitingolo
• Louis Pitingolo
• Taylor Pitt
• Aidan F. Quigley
• William A. Radcliffe
• Jack M. Rielly
• Mary E. Riley
• Luc Rollet
• Drew Rosenthal
• Brian M. Rubenstein
• Christopher Schaumberg
• Aaron Schwarz
• Andy J. Serretti
• Dan P. Serretti
• Dana S. Skerker
• Jake C. Smith
• Edward Sot
• Michael W. Stewart
• Ryan Texas
• Dominick Wapsva
• Colin Wacaster
• Carson K. Wahlers
• Cole J. Wahlers
• Kyle C. Wahlers
• Walker B. Wigand
• Cole A. Wolfram
• Jessica Wood
• Terry Xu

Instructors for the Police Youth Academy included:

• Lead Instructor: Ptl. Jason Massimino
• Lt. John DiPasquale
• Ptl. William Fettes
• Ptl. Ed Gaffney
• Ptl. Nicholas Franks
• Disp. Brian Nigro
• Disp. Anthony England
• Disp. Jackie Testa
• Disp. Frank Mea

The Police Youth Academy thanked the following for their assistance:

• Berkeley Heights Volunteer Fire Department
• New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit
• Union County Sheriff K-9 Unit
• Union County Corrections Gang Unit
• Special Agent Martin Feely, FBI
• Special Agent Will Huston, ATF
• Special Agent Tim McMahon, DEA
• Special Agent Mill Matelski, Secret Service
• Union County S.W.A.T.
• Union County Bomb Squad
• Members of the Berkeley Heights Police Patrol and Investigation Divisions
• Chief Michael P. Mathis