Toughest Camp in Town: The Fort Lee Junior Police Academy

The kids in the blue gym uniforms sprint past the fountains of the Jack Alter Fort Lee Community Center. They don’t want to be late for the Fort Lee Junior Police Academy. The late offender might have to run extra sprints across the lawn or do more pushups during the day.

This simple rule causes kids to run very fast and be on time. The day starts in the classroom, where the academy class is inspected. All cadets have to wear a Police I.D. card on a lanyard and a blue uniform. Shouts of “Yes Sir!” echo down the halls of the community center.

Senior Cadet Instructor Det. Jamie Cuevas speaks of expectations during the program: There will be no cheating yourself at the Police Academy; you have to complete the program of exercise, stretching and sit-ups; the instructors teach you the proper way of doing exercises, and you must follow it.

The dog walkers outside are taken by surprise as the cadets file out to the steps of the stage and the grass field. This is where the physical training will begin. Det. Michelle Morganstern gives the orders for the exercise to begin, and the physical training starts.