Kids get a firsthand look at law enforcement
By Ed Birch, Special Writer
The township’s young people are getting a firsthand look at police work this summer.
The South Brunswick Police Department has again started its annual Youth Police Academy program.
The free, one-week program consists of approximately 25 area young people who are between 11-12 years old.
The students receive information and demonstrations on several branches of police work. The program consists of three consecutive one-week sessions to service approximately 75 area young people, police said.
According to the department, each youth enrolled in the program receives an identification card, a T-shirt and hat identifying the program, and a water bottle.
Sgt. Gene Rickle and patrolman Nathan Labuda, under the direction of acting Capt. Joe Charmello and Capt. James Stoddard coordinate the program.
"Additional emphasis has been placed on respect and discipline for the past two years," Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. "We have implemented a command structure to the program with each class having squad leaders and class leaders appointed."
The chief said additions to the overall program include team building exercises, work details, and marching.
The general idea behind the program is to educate the youth on police related programs and operations within the town, and to instill confidence in the feelings towards police officers.
In the past, the program has been well received by parents and has led to additional adult volunteerism within the township and the adult Citizens’ Police Academy program, according to the department.
Among the areas covered by the week-long syllabus include, officer requirements, an overview of the legal system, fire prevention, SWAT teams, a polygraph demonstration, a K-9 demonstration, traffic safety, police equipment including motorcycles, car stops, interviewing, detective principles, first aid, the volunteer fire department, the role of the FBI, and police helicopter use.
The program concludes with a Graduation Ceremony at the end of each week, according to the officers running the program.
Detective Joe Cruz of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, assisted by patrolman Kevin Mastroserio and Essex County Detective Robert Sutton provided this week’s K-9 demonstration on Monday.
Their German shepherd K-9 officers who are being trained as narcotics and explosives identifying dogs joined them.
The officers explained to the attendees that the dogs are put through a 15-week course to develop their skills.
Each officer brings their assigned dogs’ home with them as part of the training and ownership period.
The dogs are trained during the program to release designated identifying signals to their masters to acknowledge what they discover during their patrols of search areas.
Narcotics dogs are trained to identify 16 different drug odors, while explosives dogs can recognize 32 products.
The K-9 staff demonstrated the techniques by hiding samples of confiscated narcotics and explosives in the instruction room before the dogs were allowed to patrol the areas in three different demonstrations.
In each demonstration, the K-9 officer made the proper identifying signals to their supervisors upon reaching the areas.
"It is amazing that the dogs are trained to respond to their handlers and do not enter into any playing with us children in the room," said Nathan Castimore, 11, of Kendall Park. "It is very interesting how the officers provide a towel as a reward as soon as they do their jobs."
Detective Cruz also explained that it is more productive to offer the rewards in the form of towels that are provided for free by the New Jersey Department of Correction, rather than providing much more costly food rewards.
During the graduation ceremony attended by the students and their parents on Friday, each successful participant will get a signed certificate from Chief Hayducka and South Brunswick Mayor Frank Gambartese, the officers said.

