The Junior Police Cadet Academy Program received a $5,000 check on Thursday presented by Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus. The program is a continuation of the Youth and Police Initiative and the Youth Police Academy over the summer.

Orange County Legislator Kevindaryan Lujan pushed for the contribution from the county for months until is was finally approved this month.

“This program speaks to the fact that the city of Newburgh has been doing so many great things over the past few years,” said Lujan. “I think it’s so important to recognize the people who do great things for us, they don’t always get attention for it. You want to know why we reduced crime, it’s because we focus on the community policing. I want to show the partnership of the county, the county executive and the police department and say we’ve got your back just like you have ours.”

The program was initiated by Chief Doug Solomon but run by Lt Joseph Cortez and Officer Dan D’Elicio. Students are given their own uniforms and equipment, they receive hands-on field training as well as lectures to prepare them for the police academy and for the police tests.

“I grew up in this community and went through a similar program,” said D’Elicio. “The most rewarding part is showing them skills and techniques and watching them apply it with other students. These were things I learned as a kid and now watching them go through it brings everything full circle.”

Since their graduation from the Youth Academy students have met weekly in the cadet program, doing lectures, tactical and physical fitness training. There are currently 20 high school students currently involved with the program, some with the hopes of going into law enforcement or into the military.

“My family is in law enforcement,” said Junior Cadet Carson Mann. “I want to continue to go through their footsteps, and this program is giving me the tools to do that. My favorite part is in class when we talk to the police officers and they tell us about their careers and show us tactical moves.”

The money will give the department the opportunity to fully fund uniforms and purchase training equipment for all the students. The students are selling raffles and fundraising with the help of their training officers. A portion of all the money raised is donated to the Newburgh Free Academy Criminal Justice Program.

“My ultimate goal is to get several students from the cadet program to go on to the police academy for the City of Newburgh,” said Cortez. “It would be awesome, I retire in two and a half years, so we’ll see what happens before i retire. That would be a great moment for me to see that happen.”

For more information on where to make a donation or about the program you can contact Lt. Cortez at 845-569-7539.