“FORWARD MARCH”: Police Sergeant Fred Williams, former U.S. Marines drill instructor, welcomes the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students participating in Princeton’s week-long Youth Police Academy, which will include classroom activities, hands-on techniques, and police demonstrations. (Photo by Donald Gilpin)

Recent news reports on police departments throughout the country may have been full of tension, violence, and controversy, but for 20 young area residents this week’s Princeton Youth Police Academy is providing a fun and exciting opportunity to learn about police work from the inside. 

Under the auspices of the Princeton Police Department (PPD), the Youth Academy, in its 11th year, is a program designed to provide these 6th, 7th, and 8th graders with firsthand knowledge of a police officer’s duties and responsibilities.

Building self-confidence and discipline is also a key goal of the program. “It’s important that kids learn responsibility,” said Police Sergeant Fred Williams, former U.S. Marines drill instructor, following an opening session in which the middle school recruits learned the rudiments of marching and following instructions. “They need to learn the values that will serve them the rest of their lives. As they interact with people in all walks of life, they will need these tools.”

The Youth Police Academy may lead students to pursue careers in police and criminal justice work, but “It’s not necessarily about becoming a police officer,” Mr. Williams added. “It’s about leadership values that allow you to conduct yourself as a responsible adult.”

The 20 young men and women, along with six
recent alumni of the program who serve as counselors, are meeting at police headquarters on Witherspoon Street from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. every day this week for classroom activities, hands-on techniques, and police demonstrations; including car accident investigations, crime scene investigations, a K-9 demonstration, a visit and demonstration from a state police helicopter, arrest procedures, motor vehicle stops, building searches, fire safety, first aid, and more.

Sgt. Chris Tash, another one of the Academy instructors, noted two central goals of the program. “We want to let the kids see what it’s like to be a police officer, what we go through each day; and if kids are interested we want to encourage them to pursue this as a career.”

Andrew Nagle, currently a junior at Rutgers majoring in criminal justice, has been involved with Princeton Youth Academy since he was in the sixth grade — three years as a student, then six years as a counselor through high school and the first years of college, and now an intern with the PPD.

“It has been a great way to get involved, to get to know the officers and to help out in the community,” said Mr. Nagle, who lives in Princeton and serves as an EMT with the Princeton First Aid Squad.

Mr. Nagle explained his interest in a career in police work, “It’s been a dream for me since I was a little kid. I like to be able to help others who need it. I like being out with the community on the street or on the road.”

And in these particularly difficult, tense times for police officers, Mr. Nagle praised the professionalism of the PPD and observed, “I like the whole community policing aspect of the job, and I’m optimistic that I can make a difference, continuing what these guys are doing, putting a friendly face on law enforcement.”

The Princeton Police Department expressed its hope that the Youth Police Academy will both educate the participants and create a stronger bond between the police officers and the youth of the community.