Youth Police Academy Proud

Today's graduation of the 33rd “class” of BurlCo Youth Police Academy participants will bring with it a new milestone, according to Sheriff Jean Stanfield. Unofficially, she said, it will mean that 1,000 youngsters have now participated in the unique law enforcement program.

“We looked at the history of this program over the last seven years and we did the math,” said Stanfield, “and when you add it all up, each of these 25 young people can proudly declare that they were number 1,000.”

More important, said the Sheriff, is that the program's participants – typically boys and girls ages 6 to 12 – walk away with a little more knowledge about law enforcement, about such basics as bicycle safety and the perils of substance abuse, and about how to avoid abduction by strangers.

“Best of all,” Stanfield said, “is that they develop a healthy rapport and respect for law enforcement officers. That's gratifying not only to the young people, but to the Sheriff's Officers and Police Officers who provide the instruction.”

Graduation is set for 11:30am today, Saturday, March 27, at the Burlington County Human Services Facility on Woodlane Road in Westampton, but the agenda of events for this class of 25 really begins at 9am.

Over the course of the program, the students have had lessons in fire safety, bike safety, and even a bit of marching and drilling. Then there is also “escape school” – lessons in avoiding abduction, and “cultural diversity” – like learning to appreciate the challenges of blind individuals who rely on seeing eye dogs.

Saturday morning It all gets topped off with a demonstration by the Burlington City Special Response, or SWAT, team, and then finally, the graduation ceremony itself.

When the program was started in 1997, said Stanfield, the Sheriff's Department could not predict that it would become the success story that it has. She credits schools with bringing it to the attention of students and their families, and law enforcement officers with their efforts to keep the exercises fun and interesting.

Each Youth Police Academy class dedicates three Saturdays to the program. And while that is not a lengthy schedule, it provides ample opportunity to give youngsters a taste of crime prevention, law enforcement knowledge, and personal safety tips.

“A thousand kids later and we're still going strong,” said the Sheriff. “That's very gratifying to everyone involved.”

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Author: Press Release