HOWELL – The 2022 P.A.L. Cadet Graduation was held in conjunction with the township’s observance of the National Night Out event at the Xscape Theater parking lot on Route 9. Despite the intense summer heat, the crowd enjoyed music, food, demonstrations and giveaways following the conclusion of the P.A.L. graduation ceremony.
Forty-five cadets graduated from the intensive boot camp run by the Howell Township Police Department, after completing the one-week course. The youngsters were required to be at boot camp from morning until late afternoon every day during a weeklong stint, where they were trained and drilled by active members of the Howell Police Department.
The participants consisted of sixth, seventh and eighth graders who learned the basics of police work, including crime scene processing, firearms, the use of force, motor vehicle enforcement, the use of drone and robot technology in law enforcement, and 911 communications.
Besides instruction from the Howell Police Department, the New Jersey State Police also provided a presentation on composite sketching. In addition, the cadets heard lectures by the FBI, and even toured the Monmouth County Jail to learn about the operations of corrections officers.
The one-week course also included instruction by other first responders, which provided the cadets with a tour of a medevac helicopter, and an EMS class on stabilizing injuries. Even instructors from the Monmouth County Fire Academy taught the young cadets how to climb ladders, perform search-and-rescue operations, and put out live fires.
“Many of the kids who attend this camp have enrolled into our Police Cadet Program, which is geared towards older kids who wish to further their education and pursue a career in law enforcement,” said Sgt. Paul Mazzeo of the Howell Police Department. “We have had attendees go on to further their law enforcement career and have had a few go into the military.”
In addition to Mazzeo, Cpl. Maureen McBride as well as Officers Jayme Higgins and Mike Migdon served as instructors at the Cadet camp daily.
“It teaches them discipline,” explained Joanne Mandracchia of the Howell P.A.L. “It’s from eight [o’clock] to four, so they’re not sleeping in for that week and waking up whenever they want. It’s like boot camp.” This year’s graduating class was the twelfth for the program and was brought to fruition by P.A.L. staff member Ron Carmen, Howell P.A.L. CEO Chris Hill and Director of Operations, Jaime Szyarto.
“It is great that we are able to provide this program to our community,” Mazzeo said. “Most of the kids who are in this program attend Howell schools, and have forever made a connection with the School Resource Officers that instruct at the academy. Additionally, just about every parent approaches us on graduation night praising the camp.”
The graduation purposely coincides with Howell’s participation in National Night Out, which is celebrated across the United States, almost without exception, on the first Tuesday of August.
“It really is one of the most important events in the town,” said Howell Interim Manager Joseph Clark. “Every year it gets a little bit bigger. I’m always very proud of our police. This is obviously Chief [John] Storrow’s first National Night Out as Chief, so it’s nice to see him sort of presiding over it. And it’s always great to see the young men and women stepping up, learning and participating as well.”
National Night Out finds its origin in the 1970s, when the National Crime Prevention Council provided a $15,000 grant to create the event. From simple neighborhood watch patrols, the event has grown in the ensuing 50 years to symbolize private citizens doing their part to prevent crime. The event now involves civic groups participating in fundraising activities that encourage community involvement and foster better relationships with police departments. Howell is just one of the 189 communities in New Jersey that celebrate the event.
“Howell is a big public safety community,” said Deputy Mayor Pamela Richmond. “Our cops are top notch. So, to have them out here is super important since they are one of the biggest departments in our Township. And they’re so good, and the people love them. The community loves them.”
Given that it serves not only as a civic crime prevention event, but also fosters better relationships between the public and law enforcement, Howell purposely schedules the cadet graduation to coincide with National Night Out. The National Night Out event then becomes the graduation party, and is treated in a similar fashion not unlike a youth athletic program’s season-ending “field day” activities.
“I think that we need to back the blue, support our law enforcement,” said Richmond regarding cadet graduation and National Night Out. “I think it’s important to see these cadets, especially with the times we’re living in. I love to see the girls there of course, participating in something that’s not easy, especially not in today’s world. So, I think more people should do it. They do a great job with these kids.”
“It’s one of our premier events of the year,” said Clark. “We involve the police, we have the cadets show up for their graduation, there’s a lot of local businesses. It’s a way of bringing the community together and celebrating the hard work that a lot of these young men and women did for this summer.”
Although the first National Night Out may have been more centered on crime prevention, the day has morphed into a community-building event that conflates crime prevention with better civic and neighborhood relations within the participating towns. While many communities across the United States will have large-scale barbecues, amusement rides and parade floats, Howell is always looking for ways to further augment the celebration.
“Each year we look to grow and expand the event and have already started talking about what can be done at next year’s event,” said Szyarto. “We cannot thank the vendors enough for coming out, especially in [the] heat!”
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