BARNEGAT – A class of nearly two dozen eager “cadets” completed local law enforcement training recently. However, you won’t find these particular recruits responding to calls on the streets. Graduates from the 2024 Barnegat Police Department’s 10-week Citizen Police Academy ranged from young adults exploring law enforcement careers to retirees interested in learning more about how local officers keep Barnegat safe.
Led by Sgt. Richard Boyle and Officer Nicole Lentini, the program kicked off with a roll call and introductions. Chief Jason “Jay” Carroll praised his team for revitalizing the Citizen Police Academy, sidelined during the pandemic shutdowns.
While the focus was on law enforcement, the Citizen Police Academy also emphasized community engagement. Carroll expressed his appreciation for the program, recognizing it as a powerful tool to build trust between the police department and the people it serves. He said he wants the community to see police officers as partners in keeping Barnegat safe, not just as enforcers of the law.
The roster of student participants was as diverse as it was interesting. Angie Sheedy, who had volunteered with the Barnegat First Aid Squad for 40 years, shared that while she enjoyed her role as a first responder, she had always felt a strong desire to do even more.
“I’ve wanted to be a cop since the 1970s,” revealed Sheedy. “I always loved the show ‘The Mod Squad’ back then.”
One young man said he’d moved from Vietnam to the United States ten years ago. He noticed the differences in policing between the two countries, which sparked his curiosity about how officers carry out their duties here.
At least two participants revealed that family members were either currently working in law enforcement or had retired from the field. They joined the program to better understand the complexities of their loved ones’ careers.
Jordan Lavelle, who graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice last year from Stockton University, plans to pursue a career in juvenile justice. Alex Pace hoped the program would expose him to different types of opportunities in law enforcement.
“I’ve wanted to be a police officer my entire life,” Pace shared. “When I was about 17, I was diagnosed with a nerve disease. I’m taking these classes, hoping one day to land a desk job.”
Tim Downs, a retired radio broadcaster, said he became interested in the local department after signing up as a school crossing guard.
“Luckily, I have one of the best bosses,” said Downs, referring to Boyle who supervises Barnegat’s crossing guards. “We just finished up training and are going out as needed around the township.”
Ten Weeks Of Unique Experiences
The Academy offered a comprehensive overview of the Barnegat Police Department, starting with its modest beginnings in 1973 when it had only three officers. Participants learned about the department’s growth to its current strength of 53 officers. They also toured both the old and prospective new police headquarters, gaining insight into the department’s evolution and its expanding responsibilities in a growing community.
Throughout the program, participants had the opportunity to delve into many aspects of police work. Topics ranged from patrol procedures to the importance of de-escalation tactics to the technicalities of use-of-force policies. Guest lecturers included local officers from specialized units, such as traffic safety, crime reduction and SWAT operations.
“I don’t have that power or authority to grant you or give you a badge, so whatever you learn in here is just for your own basic knowledge,” Boyle reminded the participants. “This is obviously a fun learning environment.”
Classes took “mutual aid” to a new level as first responders from beyond the Barnegat Police Department joined various weekly sessions to share their expertise.
Students witnessed an engaging demonstration by the Barnegat Police Department’s K-9 Tracker, showcasing the dog’s tracking skills in action. The experience was further enhanced by a visit from two canine officers accompanied by their human handler from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office.
One of the more unique aspects of the Academy was its interactive nature. The Barnegat First Aid Squad led students in Family and Friends CPR certification courses, equipping them with essential life-saving skills. They also received specialized tourniquet training, with each student presented with their own tourniquet as a graduation gift.
The Academy gave participants a deeper look into the department’s technology and equipment, including its drone program and drug recognition training. Boyle himself is a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and offered some challenges in determining if someone is driving under the influence of drugs rather than alcohol.
“There’s a machine you blow into that gives you a reading for the blood alcohol content in your body,” shared Boyle. “But there’s not a machine that gives you the level of how much methamphetamines you’re on, or how much cocaine you’re on, or how much marijuana you smoke.”
During one week of the Academy, participants had the opportunity to learn about sobriety tests and try out impairment goggles firsthand. Another highlight was visiting Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s Academy of Law and Public Safety (ALPS) program within the Waretown Fire Training Center.
Retired Brick Deputy Chief Robert Mazza, one of the ALPS instructors, began the evening session with a briefing, emphasizing the importance of treating firearms with respect. He also went into depth regarding the rules of firearms safety.
Participants were individually introduced to the Firearms Training Simulator (FATS), a virtual reality system replicating real-life policing scenarios. Each had a chance to engage with a suspect and become involved in potentially life or death situations that required them to use firearms. The exercise resulted in conversations about the importance of de-escalation and verbal commands in such scenarios.
The FATS training took place in the final week before graduation. As each participant finished their turn, their classmates cheered them on. It was clear how far they’d come, evolving from strangers to forming a strong, almost fraternal bond – similar to the camaraderie law enforcement officers share when working together.
When the course came to a close, the department’s officers noted the impact the Academy had on both participants and members of the local agency. Carroll, who said he had great confidence in the officers who ran the Academy, returned to visit with the participants on the night of their graduation.
“I hope you learned a lot from them,” the Chief said to the graduates. “I hope they learned a lot from you. Your perspective matters when it comes to the things we do in this police department.”
Carroll, who took on the role as chief earlier this year following Chief Keith Germain’s retirement, has credited his predecessor with setting a strong foundation for the department. Like Germain, Carroll believes that community connection is essential to effective policing.
In addition to the Citizens Academy, the Barnegat Police Department offers a summer academy for children, organizes events like Casting with a Cop and Coffee with a Cop, and recently launched a lecture series focused on educating residents. Barnegat officers frequently engage with local retirement communities and lead popular community gatherings like Hoofy’s Fest and Family Night Out, reinforcing their commitment to building strong relationships across all generations.
