55 Kids Graduate From Guttenberg’s Junior Police Academy

Fifty-five young cadets graduated from Guttenberg’s 2026 Junior Police Academy in a ceremony held Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The program, open to children in second or third grade, drew 55 cadets this year, including many returnees from prior years. It is designed to give participants an immersive look at what it is like to be a police officer through a one-week course of training, exercise, field trips, and hands-on activities.

Over the week, cadets took part in exercise and drills and watched live demonstrations by K-9 units, SWAT teams, and fire department personnel. They also visited sites including the Passaic County Police Academy, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, and the 9/11 Memorial.

The graduation took place in the Anna L. Klein School gymnasium, where friends and family gathered to watch the cadets cross the stage and receive certificates. Police Chief Frank Pelaez congratulated each cadet personally, along with Mayor Wayne Zitt and Council Members Richard Delafuente, Monica Fundora, and John Habermann.

The Guttenberg Police Department has held a Junior Police Academy each summer for more than 15 years. Sergeant Emilio Barroso coordinated and led the program this year, with participation from Police Officer Emily Dubon and other officers in the department.