Above: In 2015, Southborough Access Media produced a glimpse of Southborough’s Junior Police Academy. This year, the SPD is teaming up with other boroughs to put on a joint academy.
The Southborough Police Department is working with Westborough and Northborough to hold “The Boro’s Youth Police Academy” this summer. The joint venture will replace the SPD’s Junior Police Academy, traditionally held downtown.
This summer’s offering will take place July 30 – August 3 in Westborough at the Gibbons School, 20 Fisher Street. The cost is $50 for the week (with assistance offered if needed).
To register, please send a completed application and check to Westborough Police Youth Academy, PO Box 1123, Westborough, MA 01581. (You can also drop off the form at WPD 2400 Computer Drive Westborough, MA 01581.)
I don’t know how similar the program will be to Southborough’s past academy’s. But, I take it as a good sign that to promote it they used a 2012 story from this blog interviewing SPD officers involved in running the camp. It includes:
Run in a paramilitary style, the camp is aimed at youth ages 12 to 15.
Officer Kevin Landry, who along with [Officer Richard ] Mattioli, has been involved with the academy since its inception, said the program isn’t just for kids interested in becoming police officers or joining the military.
“We’re not teaching kids how to be police officers,” Landry said. “We’re teaching them leadership, teamwork, and responsibility.”
In addition to drills, obstacle courses, and the like, the cadets learn about special topics like international terrorism, crime scene investigation, Internet safety, and self defense.
Updated (4/16/18 7:23 am): I had incorrectly listed one of the boroughs involved. Northborough is, Marlborough isn’t.
Southborough is teaming up with Westborough and NORTHBOROUGH not Marlborough as listed in the article. Check out the seal on the application.
My apologies! Thank you for catching the error – I’ll update the post