Police Chief William Parenti announced the North Plainfield Police Department recently held the second annual Police Youth Academy in July. The Chief said 14 middle school age students graduated from the program on July 15, after a thirty hour training program that included physical conditioning, and lectures on criminal investigation, criminal law and visits from the North Plainfield Fire Department, the Somerset County SWAT team, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey Fire Marshall’s Office, and the FBI.
A participant in the program, Jimena Torres, a student at the North Plainfield Middle School spoke at the graduation ceremony. Chief Parenti wanted to share an excerpt from her speech: “The junior police academy has been a great experience for not only me, but also the other cadets here as well. Through this great program we have been able to see through the eyes of a police officer and get a taste of what they do in an actual police academy. Although the police training we were put through may have been exhausting, it was worth it, because we pushed ourselves and we improved each and every day. We also learned discipline and pride as we learned to march. In just five days we were shown marching and all the other aspects that come with…. All the things we witnessed and experienced were worth all the physical exertion and heat and yelling early in the morning because after it all, we saw some amazing things that will always stay in our minds and hearts, all because these men took the time to teach others what they love and do every day. And we thank you all very much: Chief Parenti, Officer Rogers, Detective Everett, Lieutenant Flynn, Detective Segeda, Sergeant Speck, and the two men who looked over this program the entire time Detective Fowler and last but not least, Detective Domizi and others who came here and there to help out. Thank you all so much.”
(above) Police Chief William Parenti and Mayor Michael Giordano Jr. address the students during the second annual Police Youth Academy held in July.
