Kids Learn to be Cops Again This Summer

Last year's first-ever youth police academy was such a success for the Cinnaminson Police Department, they're doing it again this year.

Organized and led by Officer Michael Czarzasty, the weeklong academy is geared toward middle school students who will learn public safety, defensive tactics, firearms and much more. 

One week might not seem like a lot of time for such young children to learn the ropes of policing, but Czarzasty said the kids cover a lot of ground.

"We cram a lot of activities into a week," he said. "However, the overall goal is to build their confidence, develop a good relationship with the police department, and to have fun while being educated about law enforcement."

There are 25 spots in the class for Cinnaminson students in grades 6, 7 and 8. Upperclassmen will receive preference. The deadline to apply is June 10.

Czarzasty is certainly no stranger to community, and youth, policing. He created the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program for the town’s sixth-graders and raised money to fix up the department’s DARE car. He helps with the first-grade reading program, participates with adopt-a-cop, and recently had his own police vehicle tricked out to more or less advertise the department's many community policing programs.

Czarzasty is also spearheading the department's high school police academy (a spin-off of last year's middle school academy), which starts next Thursday and runs all through May. 

Czarzasty explained the philosophy behind the youth and other community policing programs: "Police are known for locking up bad guys and stopping cars. We want people to come up to us and talk to us. If we have more ties to the community, its obviously going to help us out. People will be more forward with us if we have a good relationship with them already."

The fee for the middle school academy is $75, which pays for two T-shirts, one hat and the graduation party.

The academy runs from July 8-12. It will be held at Cinnaminson Middle School.

For more information or to apply, contact Officer Czarzasty at 856-829-6667, ext. 2053, or email mczarzasty@cinnaminsonpolice.org

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