WARETOWN – While law enforcement officers go through grueling training, this class of 38 recruits collectively called the experience a great time.
The Ocean Township Police Department started its ninth Junior Police Academy, conveniently held at the Ocean County Fire and EMS training grounds on Volunteer Way.
Boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 12 donned their assigned uniforms, complete with shirts and hats. The young recruits were also supplied with police logoed face coverings – a subtle reminder of why the police academy was called off last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“You’ll see that some of the kids have two chevrons on their uniform shirts,” shared Ocean Township Police Officer Bobby Bleichner. “Some of them would have three stripes if it wasn’t for us needing to cancel the academy in 2020.”
Bleichner joined other members of the local law enforcement agency in orchestrating the four-day training program. The New Jersey Department of Corrections brought in their police dog to demonstrate the use of canines in police work. Kids learned firsthand how drones are used by an officer from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department.
“I’m actually one of the DARE officers in town and have a real interest in community policing,” Bleichner said. “All of us working here see the importance in giving kids a good experience and creating a good rapport with them.”
The program teaches the recruit a variety of skills that result in many overcoming basic fears. In addition, squad competitions act as team-building exercises as the kids learn to push themselves – and their squad members.
Nine-year-old Mason Rogalski joined the Ocean Township Police Department Junior Police Academy for the first time this year. Mason’s surname might sound a bit familiar – his dad, Michal, is the department’s chief.
Mason said he doesn’t feel like he was given any special treatment because his dad heads up the local law enforcement agency. He was still expected to do go through the same rigorous challenges as the other kids.
“We start the day with fitness,” shared Mason. “One of our challenges was to cross our arms, go on our knees, pick up someone who’s sitting and then pull them backward. We then had to do 15 burpees and run.”
Chief Rogalski admitted he’s happy his son can participate in the full extent of the physical aspects of the program. He and his family spent Christmas 2019 in a Minnesota hotel, waiting for the initial steps of Mason’s recovery from surgery for a congenital heart issue.
Although Mason enjoyed the Junior Police Academy, he has no plans of following in his dad’s footsteps. Instead, he’d like to be an engineer like his big brother.
Only a couple of Mason’s fellow recruits said they hoped to one day become cops. Their aspirations came from different avenues.
“My dad’s a state trooper, and I really want to do the same thing that he does,” said Zack Garrison.
Jackson Bahr, 11, credited TV shows as the source of his career inspiration.
“It’s been my dream since I was a couple of years old to be a SWAT team member,” Jackson shared.
No matter what profession this class of recruits chooses in the years to come, it appears they took in some valuable lessons from this year’s academy.
“I learned to keep trying and just keep pushing when something’s hard,” summed up ten-year-old Tommy Lott.
