20 junior cadets graduate from junior police academy Friday

The fourth class – and the second class this summer – of the Town of Warwick Police Department Junior Police Academy graduated on Friday, August 11, 2023. The program is a collaborative effort between the police department and the Warwick Valley Central School District.

The 20 junior cadets, district students between the ages of 10 and 15, were celebrated for their commitment to the academy, which emphasizes public service and leadership, at the outdoor theater at Mountain Lake Park. The program – in its second year – teaches the junior cadets many of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate qualities, including leadership, collaborative and communication skills, as well as citizenship and problem-solving.

“We love this program,” Warwick Police Chief John Rader said at the end of the ceremony. “In the day-to-day life of a police officer, we don’t always get the joy and fun we get from doing this program. I hope the graduates learned some good lessons for life The big thing we want the graduates to take from here is to make good decisions and be good citizens.”

The goal of the program is for the children to have fun while gaining an understanding of the demands of police training and service. The Junior Police Academy consists of daily physical training, lectures, presentations, hands‐on activities, and several interesting and educational field trips.

Class president McKenzie Levine thanked her instructors for always helping her and also thanked her fellow cadets.

“We came in not knowing each other, and today we are graduating as a team,” McKenzie said. “I have so many great memories from my experience. I’m so thankful to be a part of this team and to have created new friendships.”

View a slideshow of photographs from the ceremony below: