August 7, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 5 Mahwah Recruits graduate from Junior Police Academy by Frank J. McMahon The Mahwah Police Department recently held its annual graduation for the participants in the Mahwah Junior Police Academy. The ceremony was held in the Ramapo Ridge Middle School gymnasium before about 300 parents, grandparents, and other relatives of this year’s recruits. This summer’s class included approximately 140 stu- dents who completed the intensive two-week program that simulates police officer training. Mahwah Police Sergeant Robert Curtis, the coordina- tor of the academy program, advised those in attendance that the Mahwah Junior Police Academy, which was started 12 years ago, emphasizes respect, discipline, and honesty through a rigorous program of physical training and mili- tary style experiences. Curtis said the program is for students who will be entering the sixth grade and have completed the first year of the Mahwah DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. The essential focus of the academy program, according to Curtis, is to build confidence in the student’s ability to deal positively with tough social situations. In addition, the program presents law enforcement in a posi- tive manner. Curtis explained that the program introduces recruits to techniques used by law enforcement personnel when they are making arrests for drunk driving, conducting searches, and fingerprinting. A highlight of the program each year, Curtis said, is when the recruits simulate the dangerous experience of driving under the influence of alcohol. The recruits, accompanied by an officer, drive a golf cart while wearing special goggles that simulate the dis- torting, confusing images seen by a drunk driver, which give the recruits a firsthand view of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol. During their academy experience, the recruits wore uni- forms and were responsible for arriving on time every day. They were also expected to take notes on their training and experiences and discuss those experiences with their par- ents. Each day, as the parents dropped their kids off at the school, they were questioned by Curtis. Those recruits who had not discussed their training experiences with their par- ents had to do pushups. Recruits also took field trips to the Mountain Creek Water Park in Vernon, Darlington County Park in Mahwah, and Met Life Stadium. Several of the recruits received awards for various activ- ities and all the recruits attending the program received three personalized Junior Police Academy T-shirts as their “uniform of the day,” including a graduation T-shirt. They also attended a pizza party each Friday and a graduation party, dinner, and trip to Super Dome Athletic Facility in Waldwick following the graduation. In addition, they received an official Junior Police Academy sling backpack and a cooler lunch bag. Mahwah resident Michael Keller, one of this year’s Seniors invited to picnic at pool Mahwah seniors are invited to an Aug. 15 picnic at the Mahwah Municipal Pool at 700 Darlington Avenue. This free event will begin at noon. The picnic will include hot dogs, chips, ice cream, fruit, and soda, followed by enter- tainment and dancing. Those in attendance are are also welcome to swim. In the event of rain, the picnic will be held Aug. 16. For more information, call (201) 529-4949. recruits, said he had a great time at the academy and he learned a lot of new things, such as how handcuffs are put on people who are being arrested, what the police do in case of an armed robbery, how police officers take finger- prints, and the way K-9 police dogs are used. Keller said three of the highlights of the were the simu- lated drunk driving test, a demonstration put on by a tacti- cal team of police officers who described the methods they use to bring down a criminal holding a hostage, and the tour they took of a helicopter that was flown from Hacken- sack to Ramapo Ridge School. He said he also enjoyed the field trips. “I thought it was a lot of fun,” Keller said. “I’m happy I went to it.” During the graduation, the recruits heard complimen- tary remarks from Mahwah Mayor William Laforet who said he was told this was the best behaved class of recruits ever to attend the program. The keynote speaker, Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, also complimented the recruits on completing the pro- gram. She told the recruits that they are the future leaders of Mahwah, the State of New Jersey, and in anything they decide to do in life.