Welcome to the Junior Police Academy.
For over three decades, the Junior Police Academy has been a game-changer for young people across the country.
Today a whole generation of Junior Police Academy cadets are adults – better citizens for having once, in their youth, called a police officer friend.
The program is simple, but powerful.
A police officer stands in front of a classroom full of kids and says, "I am here because I care and because you are important to this community.”
That moment can sweep away years of misconceptions about “the police” and awaken a young person’s sense of citizenship.
Courage
Integrity
A Sense of Justice
Junior Police Academy makes these words come alive beyond the Marvel Universe.
Kids learn that heroes who fight crime are real. Not super-heroes, but people, sometimes flawed, but dedicated to something bigger than themselves.
It’s an invaluable lesson for kids, and often is the first step towards them becoming the hero of their own story.
“Young people must be challenged to contribute to the life of their community. ”
The Finest Mentors in the Nation
When we launched the Junior Police Academy, we had the curriculum and the structure, but we were facing a massive unknown:
Would the officers actually step up?
We didn't know if they would have the time, the energy, or—most importantly—the rare gift required to truly connect with young people.
What we discovered amazed us.
The officers who pioneered this program across the country proved to be some of the finest mentors and educators in the nation.
“It all comes down to that one officer standing in front of a classroom full of kids.”
