Summit Youth Graduate From Summer Police Program

Editor's Note: The Following is a press release from the .

Friday August 3rd marked the conclusion of the eighth season of the Summit Police Department’s Youth Academy, an increasingly popular program designed to provide area youth with the opportunity to gain an understanding of the role of the police officer. In all, 59 cadets, the largest number thus far, graduated from the 2012 Youth Academy’s July and August sessions in ceremonies attended by family members, Summit’s Mayor Ellen Dickson, Summit’s Police Chief Robert Weck and various council members.

Ranging in age from 11 to 14, the cadets experience the same types of drills and physical training that the men and women receive in today’s police academies. In addition to receiving overviews of criminal investigations, evidence recovery and patrol tactics, the cadets are provided with hands on scenario training in which they process crime scenes, conduct high risk motor vehicle stops and even have an opportunity to experience some of the difficulties of emergency vehicle operation by driving golf carts alongside their instructor.

During their visit to the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Scotch Plains the cadets utilize the same obstacle course used by police recruits, receive unarmed defense instruction and undergo firearms simulator training which demonstrates the split-second decisions that police officers must frequently make. The cadets also attend demonstrations from various specialized units that are available to law enforcement, such as the Union County K-9 Unit, SWAT team, Bomb Squad and the Summit Fire Department.

Summit Police Chief Robert Weck commented that “the mission of the is to familiarize our area youth with the role of the police officer and provide them the opportunity to learn respect for the law, personal responsibility and the importance of teamwork, all through positive interaction with local police officers and exposure to the challenges of responsibility of police work.

We believe that we are accomplishing this year after year and are extremely proud of our graduates as well as the officers involved with the program.”

Specifically, Chief Weck thanked Det. Matthew Buntin, the Academy’s Program Director, Pamela Ferreira, Academy Secretary, Police Officer Gerald McDermott, lead instructor, Police Officers Kathy Maggiulli, Ryan Stanek, and Paulo Santos, Auxiliary Officers Sandro Reyes and Jessica Diaz, police intern Gregory Vartan and volunteer and Youth Academy graduate Ali Hoesly.

The Summit Police Youth Academy is grateful to the John H. Stamler Police Academy, the Summit Fire Department and the Union County specialized units for their assistance. Also, a very special thank you goes to the Grand Summit Hotel for providing transportation to the Police Academy each and every year since the Youth Academy’s inception.

JULY GRADUATES:

Daniela Acuna

Valeria Araya

Tiaan DeJongh

Liam Dwyer

Jason Floegel

Carter Freeman

Kiara Freeman

Jordan Goldberg

Jakob Hansch

Gerard Herrera

Sterling Hiltabrand

John Jeffords

George P. Koniaris

Louis Steven Lizano

Jocelyn Mendez

Andres Munoz

Ryan Paik

Reynaldo Perez

Ivette Popoca

Michael Poyner, Jr.

Diego Ramirez

Alex Regner

Allison Rodriguez

James Rodriguez

Rachell Rojas

Paula Maria Silva

Victoria Silva

Matthew Supran

Tyler Tomlin

Parker Wills

AUGUST GRADUATES

Kellyn Amozoqueno

Jonathan Banks

Josh Banks

Yuliza Brenes

Daniel J. Cambronero

Danielle Crosson

Willy Esquivel

Griffin Feeney

Michael Flanagan

Ariel Guzman

Ajahanai Horn

Matthew Krasowski

Jeffrey Lopez

Steve Molino

Liam Morris

Patrick Morris

Shaina Murray

Yanick Nandury

Sarah Parenti

David Patterson

Alexandra Peyton

Angeles Rivas

Josue Rojas

Pablo Rojas

Gerald Solano

Brian Ugalde

David Yuen

Kaleb Yuen

Brian Zellhofer