The Nutley Police Department held its 11th annual Junior Police Academy program last week at Spring Garden School. The free week-long program, under the leadership of Nutley Police Lieutenant Michael Padilla, welcomed students from grades 5-8 to learn basic police fundamentals including marching, self-defense and crime scene processing; experienced working with the Nutley Fire Department and EMS Squad; and took the time to help the Nutley Family Service Food Bank and visit the USS Intrepid Museum in New York City.

“I have to be honest, every year this event takes place, it just makes me prouder and prouder,” Commissioner Alphonse Petracco, Director of Public Safety said. “To see the youth of our town come out and spend a week of their summer learning all about the inner workings of the job our great public safety department does is simply amazing to me. These kids are the treasures of our town. I want to thank and congratulate all of them, as well as their parents for another successful year of the Nutley Junior Police Academy. And special thanks to all the police officers, firemen, EMS and staff who volunteered their time to make this program the groundbreaking event it is.”

Lieutenant Padilla, who spends countless hours volunteering to help the township’s youth programs throughout the year, felt that this year's program was a little different. “This is probably the least stressed I've been about this since I started,” he said, “but that's because of all the support and help that we get doing this. We're a community that cares. We are, as Director Petracco and all of the Commissioners have said, ‘One Nutley.’ So when it comes to putting something together for our kids, there's no red tape. There's nothing that stops us from making  it work.”

Like every year, there are a number of students who step up to be leaders and set examples for the younger kids. This year’s class included a student who has a decorated family history of public safety in Nutley. 

“It's been a really amazing experience,” said Louis DeLitta, grandson of former Nutley Police Chief Robert DeLitta. “The kids are great. The learning is great. We did some different things, different learning experiences, which were so informative. I really enjoyed it.”

This was Matthew Loeser’s third year in the program. “I really enjoyed the Junior Police Academy,” he said.  “I was proud to be the Gray Shirt Squad leader for this year. This is a great experience, from helicopter landings to self-defense demonstrations to going to help and volunteer time at the Family Services Bureau. Plus the field trip to the Intrepid Museum in New York City. That’s really a lot to do in one week. You also learn great leadership skills and discipline as a squad leader and a lot of different fun activities that happen throughout the week that will teach you many different aspects of being a police officer.”

First year attendee Russell Ballou had a pleasantly surprising experience. “I honestly was scared going into this,” the future eighth grader stated.  “I didn't wanna get yelled at. I was like, if it was drill sergeant stuff, that's just not my league. But this was amazing. It was a lot better than I thought it would be. All of the guys that worked here were amazing. They came down to a personal level. I had a great time.”

From day one, the mover and shaker behind the program has been Lieutenant Padilla. After thanking the many who helped keep it thriving, he shared his feelings about not only this year’s class but those that came before.

“The thing that makes me most proud is seeing our kids go and be successful.” the Lieutenant said. “When I see a kid wearing a Junior Police Academy shirt when it's all over, that means that they cared and took pride in what they did. So while the rest of the world's complaining about leadership, we're just gonna keep working on building it here.”