Junior Police Academy


DSC_2663 copy
2023 Junior Police Academy Class

Each summer, the Denville Police Department conducts a Junior Police Academy for residents between the ages of 11 and 14 (grades 5 through 8). The recruits spend one week with members of the police department and other participating agencies in a police academy like environment.  Each day, the recruits arrive at 8:00 a.m. for inspection. They stand in formation during inspection, dressed in their Junior Police Academy uniform, consisting of a hat, shirt and shorts. Afterwards the recruits participate in physical training exercises, which include running and other calisthenics.

The recruits then receive presentations each day from members of the Denville Police Department or from other agencies with law enforcement or public safety backgrounds. Presentations generally include the Morris County Sheriff's K9 Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Morris County Park Police Mounted Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Denville Volunteer Fire Department, the Morris County S.E.R.T. Team, and the N.J. State Police Aviation Unit. In addition, the recruits typically go on a field trip, which includes a tour of one or more of the following: the Morris County Jail, the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center, the Morris County Crime Lab and the Morris County Police and Firefighters Training Academy.  At the end of the week there is a graduation ceremony where each recruit receives a certificate indicating their successful completion of the class. 

Application packets for the program can be picked up at Police Headquarters or downloaded from this website when they become available (see link in navigation bar on left side of page).   Class size will be restricted to the first 65 applicants.  If you would like to learn more information about this program, please contact the Community Services Bureau at 973-627-4900 x 2.