By Misha Patel
Herald News
BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — The Bergen County Youth Police Academy, a two-week camp for high school students that aims to educate students about law enforcement, began this week in Mahwah.
A collaboration between the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Sheriff’s Office and county Police Department, the free program has become widely popular since its establishment in 2004 by Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli.
“It is a fantastic program,” said Melissa Czarnogursky, a 2010 graduate of the program and now a Bergen County Sheriff’s Department intern. “It is a great opportunity to develop leadership skills and is very insightful into the duties of law enforcement.”
Czarnogursky, 16, a rising senior at Henry P. Becton Regional High School, has aspirations of joining the Marines. Her duties at the academy include motivating the cadets through daily morning physical training.
In addition to physical training, cadets participate in several activities that foster team-building and educate them about the duties of the law enforcement agencies.
“It’s so much better than sitting in some classroom,” said Fred Eichler, 16, a rising junior at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan.
On Tuesday, cadets participated in “CSI Bergen” in which they sat through a forensics introductory lecture by Detective Gil Breit of the Prosecutor’s Office and then collected evidence, investigated a mock burglary/murder scene, and interviewed eyewitnesses. They took copious notes, examined the corpse, reported their findings back to their squad leaders and never stopped asking questions.
Other activities include a mock trial, fire simulation, team building, field trips to the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. air marshals, and a Police Day that teaches the cadets about the bomb squad, gang violence and the canine unit.
Some of the cadets, like Lauren Kubler, 15, and Taylor Anzilotti, 14, plan on law enforcement careers and are using the academy as a launching point. Kubler, a rising sophomore at Pascack Valley High School, could not stop smiling during Tuesday’s fire simulation.
“My dad is a firefighter,” she said. “And I happen to love it too. When I turn 16, I plan on joining the Hillsdale Fire Department.”
For those who do not plan on continuing in the field of law enforcement, the lessons they learn at the academy are still applicable.
“Honor. Respect. Commitment. That’s our motto,” said Demetra Agriantonis Maurice, assistant prosecutor and coordinator of the academy. “It’s the qualities we try to instill, so whether or not the kids go into law enforcement, they can use them in everyday life.”
For the 30-plus law enforcement officials assisting with the program, it is a nice break from everyday duty and a great way to influence the next generation of law enforcement.
“They [the officers] all want to be here and are very dedicated. Some of them are new here, but they have the same enthusiasm as the ones coming back,” said Maurice. “It’s a true partnership between the three agencies. If we can affect even one kid, it’s all worth it.”
Copyright 2011 North Jersey Media Group Inc