Ho-Ho-Kus July 15, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Junior Police Academy draws record number of cadets by Jennifer Crusco Four summers ago, the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department’s Junior Police Academy was launched with just 15 participants. This year, the annual event held at the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School drew a record 50 cadets, all of whom will enter grade six in September. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief Gregory Kallenberg brought the program to the borough in the summer of 2006 after he secured a grant to fund the activities. Support continues to be provided by the Bergen County Municipal Alliance, the Policemen’s Benevolent Association, and the borough. The program, Kallenberg said, “is a little sampling of all we do.” The academy stresses discipline while the cadets are together as a group, and when they are at home. Officers encourage the cadets to make their beds and clean up around the house. “We’re very excited about the numbers we go this year,” the chief added. “That’s a testament to the four officers who run the program.” Kallenberg also noted the positive changes that are visible in the cadets each year. “I visit them each morning. The first day, they’re out of their comfort zone, but soon they’re walking in formation. It’s an amazing transformation in just a week,” he said. The well-behaved cadets respond positively to the daily dose of discipline they receive each day. Police officers Sean Leonard, Christopher Minchin, Anthony Balestrieri, and M Mosca give their male and female recruits a taste of the police academy experience. After the daily calisthenics, cadets participate in a variety of activities, including a visit to the Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, an investigation of a simulated crime scene, instruction in police techniques, a visit from the Bergen County Sheriff’s This year’s cadets are pictured with Officers Anthony Balestrieri, Christopher Minchin, Sean Leonard, M Mosca, and Ho-HoKus Police Chief Gregory Kallenberg (back row, center). Department’s K-9 officer, and a visit from Officer Pete Tiernan, who offered a demonstration involving the police motorcycle. After graduation, the cadets and the police officers attend a baseball game together. Midway through the academy program last week, Officer Tiernan spoke about his personal experience riding motorcycles and explained the benefits of having a motorcycle unit for police use. The cadets listened attentively as Tiernan pointed out that the motorcycle allows him to weave through lanes of traffic for speedy access, and permits him to conduct stealthy traffic enforcement because the motorcycle is not as readily visible as a police car. He also told the cadets that it is easier to jump off the motorcycle than to get out of a car. Because he is not ensconced in a car, he can get closer to people, and people find him more approachable, he said. The officer spoke about the two-week training course (continued on page 8) NATURAL CLEANERS Exclusively Using New Generation Dry Cleaning Solvent DF-2000™ Contains NO Perchloroethylene (PERC) SHIRTS LAUNDERED • EXPERT TAILORING WEDDING GOWNS CLEANED $200 $300 $500 $ 00 10 OFF OFF OFF OFF ANY ORDER $10.00 OR MORE ANY ORDER OR MORE $15.00 ANY ORDER $25.00 OR MORE ANY ORDER $50.00 OR MORE Incoming Dry Cleaning Only Incoming Dry Cleaning Only Incoming Dry Cleaning Only Incoming Dry Cleaning Only With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 ANY INCOMING ORDER OF $25 OR MORE $500 OFF $500 OFF 145 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick New Jersey 07463 (Across from Hamilton Square & New York Golf Center) ANY INCOMING ORDER OF $25 OR MORE Incoming Dry Cleaning Only • With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 Incoming Dry Cleaning Only • With Coupon Exp. 8/12/09 7-15-09 janine Airbrook3x3(7-15-09) 3x3 Serving Northern New Jersey LICENSED BY THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LIC# 29703 Phone: 201-689-9444 MIDLAND PARK, NJ – 201.988.5428