The Denville Police Department closed out its 2026 Junior Police Academy with a graduation ceremony at noon on Friday, July 17, at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway.
This year’s academy ran Monday, July 13, through Friday, July 17, and was open to Denville residents ages 11 to 14 who were in fifth through eighth grade this past school year. Enrollment was capped at 65 recruits and filled on a first come, first served basis, with a waiting list for families who applied after the cap was reached.
Recruits were dropped off by 7:50 a.m. each day for a schedule that ran until 2 p.m. Mornings started with formation and inspection in the academy uniform of hat, shirt and shorts, followed by physical training that included running and calisthenics. The rest of the day was built around classroom presentations and hands-on demonstrations from Denville officers and visiting agencies.
Guest agencies scheduled for this year’s program included the Morris County Sheriff’s Office K9 and bomb squad units, the New Jersey State Police TEAMS unit and the State Police North Star helicopter. In past years the academy has also brought in the Denville Volunteer Fire Department, federal agencies and the Morris County Park Police mounted unit, along with field trips to county public safety facilities.
Every recruit who completes the week receives a certificate at the graduation ceremony, and families are invited to attend. The department charged $110 per recruit this year to offset the cost of running the program, and provided lunch on the final day.
Applications open each spring and are posted on the department’s Junior Police Academy page. Questions go to the Denville Police Community Services Bureau at 973-627-4900, extension 383.
