Mayor’s Column

The Voorhees Township Police Department will be holding its 5th Annual Junior Police Academy from July 23 through July 27.

This program teaches our young people from the age of 12 to 17 to appreciate and respect the duties and life of a police officer. The Academy will also give the participants, who may have dreams of becoming a police officer, a taste of police life.

The program is limited to 25 cadets who will participate in drill and ceremony (marching), physical fitness training by certified police academy fitness instructors, hands-on patrol tactics training through mock scenarios and car stops, and see a demonstration from our K-9 Unit. During the week, the cadets will also receive a tour of the Juvenile Detention Center and will see demonstrations from various special units, including the crime scene unit. All of the instructors will be Voorhees Township Police Officers and the cadets will report each day to our police station.

The candidate selection process includes checks with family, neighbors and schools to ensure the applicant will be a positive addition to the learning environment for other students and will not have an issue with following directions in a para-military style academy experience. All uniform requirements must be followed.  Failure to follow Junior Police Academy rules or instructor directions will result in the cadet being dismissed from the program.

This program gives kids a taste of Police Academy life. It is meant for youths who are considering a career in law enforcement.  Applicants who have not already participated in the program will be given preference.

Upon successful completion of the Academy, each cadet will receive a certificate at a graduation ceremony.

Applications will be accepted from June 1 through end of business on June 25 and must be submitted online at www.vtpd.com/jpa.. Due to limited space, applicants will be notified if they have been selected to attend. A meeting will be scheduled with parents prior to the academy once applicants are chosen for the program. The application and related forms can be found on our website by following the link included in this message. Applicants must be residents of Voorhees Township.

Interested parents and applicants can contact Sgt. Eric Camm at (856) 882-1104 (ecamm@vtpd.com). Applications and forms for the Junior Police Academy can be found at www.vtpd.com/jpa.

**On Saturday, June 3, the Voorhees Arts Council is presenting its quarterly youth program, “Wild Animals and Photography.” The event will educate children about photographing wild animals (and pets) with phones and cameras while learning how to protect wild animals with photography. Local nature photographer Marianne Leone will share photos of lemurs from Madagascar and wolves in Yellowstone, along with animals from the Philadelphia Zoo. The event is free to Voorhees residents with a suggested $5 donation for others. This youth event is from 10 a.m. to noon in the rear of the Voorhees Town Center food court.

** The Camden County Board of Elections controls voting locations in Voorhees Township and throughout the county. Several polling places will be changing beginning in the upcoming Primary Election on June 5. The voting locations that will be in effect can be viewed at the Voorhees Township website www.voorheesnj.com. If you have any questions about your polling place or voter registration information, contact our Municipal Clerk at 856-429-7757 or at clerk@voorheesnj.com.

** The first show in our 2017 Summer Twilight Series will be on Thursday, June 21, and will feature The 52nd Street Band, a 6-piece ensemble recreating the performances of arguably the greatest rock and roll keyboard player ever, the Piano Man, Billy Joel. The 52nd Street Band has become the ultimate tribute to the music of Billy Joel. The show is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. on the “Great Lawn” at Connolly Park. A “Beer Garden” and food trucks will open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.voorheesnj.com or call the show hot line at 856-882-SHOW.