STAFFORD – After a week of drills, discipline, and discovery, Stafford Township’s Police Youth Academy wrapped up with a triumphant graduation ceremony at the Ocean Acres Community Center.
The room was packed with proud families, officers, and at least one township official – all gathered to recognize a group of middle schoolers who spent a week of their summer break getting a real taste of law enforcement. This year’s class, made up of students entering sixth and seventh grades, included an even split of boys and girls.
One of the cadets who stood out this year was 12-year-old Rose DeAlessandro, who stepped into a leadership role midway through the week. Rose kept her fellow cadets in line with confidence and poise, earning her the Leadership Award – one of several honors handed out at graduation. Other award recipients included Gunnar Zebrowski (Top Male PT), Summer Pascale (Top Female PT), and Ethan Gonzalez (Service Above Self).
Rose, who is entering the seventh grade, returned for her second year at the academy and said she loved how the experience blended structure with excitement.
“My favorite part is being able to learn how police officers and EMS do their jobs,” Rose said. “I like understanding what all the different equipment does and what their schedules are like.”
She already has her sights set on a future in law enforcement, inspired by her late grandfather, who served in the military.
“I think he would be proud,” she said.
Among those helping lead the cadets was someone who once wore the very same uniform: Class One Officer Tyler Verge, now 20, and just finishing his criminal justice degree at Kean University.
Verge completed the youth academy himself three years in a row – 2015, 2016, and 2017 – and credits it for sparking a fire that never died out.
“I always wanted to be in law enforcement,” Verge said. “All my wrestling coaches were cops, and I wanted to be just like them. My dream has always been to be a K-9 officer.”
Stafford Township hires police officers under a “chief’s town” system, meaning its own entrance exam, physical fitness test, and selection process are followed. Verge has successfully passed each stage and is on track to become a full-time officer in his hometown.
“Being able to give back to the community I grew up in is huge for me,” Verge said. “I tell the cadets to keep learning from every experience – because that’s what helped shape me.”
Eight officers in total were assigned to this summer’s Youth Academy, with Officers Anthony Vincent and Tyler Szwed having the most day-to-day contact with the cadets. Both are PT instructors for the Stafford Police Department and members of the community policing unit.
Cadets were split into squads with designated leaders, creating a chain of command that reinforced teamwork and responsibility. Uniform inspections and drills were regular parts of the daily activities. While discipline was expected, fun was also the reason students appeared to return for a second year.
Throughout the week, cadets rotated through hands-on experiences designed to simulate real-world policing and emergency service roles. They dusted for fingerprints, conducted blood spatter analysis, and took part in mock crime scene investigations. A tour of the police department included up-close views of patrol vehicles and specialized units.
SWAT team members gave demonstrations, and cadets also got a taste of Stafford’s marine unit with a ride out to Barnegat Light. They even got to experience the consequences of drunk driving through simulation and witness a K-9 demonstration brought to them by the Department of Corrections.
“They showed how the K-9s can track electronics, detect narcotics, and handle apprehensions,” Vincent shared.
Verge wasn’t the only one giving back to the community in uniform. Among the adults quietly supporting the week’s activities was Councilwoman Amy Otte, dressed not in her official capacity but in her EMT gear. Otte has been part of the Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary since 1992 and now serves as its vice president. She joined other emergency services volunteers as cadets explored fire trucks and met with local EMTs.
The week wasn’t all serious business. A physical fitness competition offered cadets a chance to push their limits, and a day at a local water park provided a welcome break from the rigid academy schedule.
Still, the impact of the experience went beyond obstacle courses and mock crime scenes.
Officer Szwed said the transformation in some cadets was noticeable even to their families. “One parent told me, ‘It looks like my kid learned some manners today.’”
Stafford Police are already thinking about the future. Applications for the 2026 Youth Police Academy will open next April and are open to students entering sixth or seventh grade that fall.
