The Rockaway Township Police Department will be holding our Second Annual Junior Police Academy the week of July 13th through July 17th. This year’s Academy will be held at Dennis B. O'Brien School located at 418 Mineral Spring Drive, Dover NJ. (Rockaway Township)

Enrollment for the Academy will be restricted to 40 recruits. All applicants must be Rockaway Township residents between the ages of 11 and 14 who are currently in the 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The first 40 eligible applications received will determine who is accepted to this year’s recruit class. Any eligible applications received after the first 40 will be placed on a waiting list. If any of the first 40 applicants decide not to participate, the waiting list will then be used to fill any openings. The waiting list will also function on a first come, first served basis. 

Applications are available at Rockaway Township Police Headquarters or may be downloaded here. No applications will be accepted before 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29th. All returned applications and attached waivers/ releases should be filled out completely, including the medical provider's written clearance. Any application returned that is not filled out completely or as instructed may be subject to disqualification. The application deadline is Friday, May 22nd at 4:00 p.m. Absolutely no applications will be accepted after the deadline.

Our objective is a week of education and fun through a Police Academy format. The week- long curriculum will include various presentations from guest law enforcement agencies, hands on activities and physical training to give the students an idea of what is involved in becoming a Police Officer. Some of the agencies that may be participating in this year’s program include the Morris County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 and Bomb Squad, the New Jersey State Police, the NJSP helicopter. The Morris County Correctional Facility, The Morris County Communications Center and a Trip to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The Academy will culminate in a graduation ceremony (time, TBD) on Friday, July 17th. Each recruit’s family is invited to attend the ceremony. 

The daily schedule is from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Recruits are to be dropped off at Dennis B. O'Brien no later than 7:55 a.m. on each day. Transportation to and from the Academy is the responsibility of the recruit’s parent or guardian. Please be prompt when dropping off and picking up your children. 

Each recruit is required to have his or her own lunch.  Please label all lunch containers with the recruit’s name. Water will be provided to all recruits during physical training exercises and other physical activities. On Friday, July 17th, the Academy will provide a free lunch (pizza) to all recruits. 

We are hopeful that the interaction that will take place between your children and the members of our police department will have a positive effect on all involved. As police officers, we thoroughly enjoy participating in this program this year and look forward to working with your children! 

If you should have any questions regarding this program, please contact Lt. Taffin at 973-625-4000 ext. 1121.