MAYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Maywood Police Department’s Juvenile Bureau is responsible for handling all matters involving juveniles within the Borough of Maywood.  Assisted by the Maywood Police Department’s Detective Bureau, the Juvenile Bureau investigates criminal activity involving juveniles, child abuse and any other matters concerning juveniles.  The Juvenile Bureau serves as a liaison between the Police Department and the Maywood School System and Hackensack High School.

 

The Juvenile Bureau conducts and participates in various juvenile related programs.  Officer Benjamin Singer and Officer Andrew Mulligan, who are assigned to the Juvenile Bureau, visits Memorial School yearly and conducts a presentation for kindergarten thru third grade students.  Topics include stranger, pedestrian and automobile safety.  The students also receive a special presentation by the Officer Phil Program, which teaches the students about self-esteem and responsibility. 

 

Officer Singer and Officer Mulligan also teach the Fifth Grade Youth Leadership Safety Program at Maywood Avenue School.  The Youth Leadership Safety Program is an instrumental program that the Maywood Police Department and Maywood Avenue School have been working hand-in-hand to promote safety awareness within the classroom.  Various topics that are taught during the program are bullying, role models, gang awareness, Internet safety, conflict resolution, drug and alcohol awareness, automobile, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and health and nutrition.  This program allows Officer Singer and Officer Mulligan to alter the curriculum to better suit the needs of the Maywood Community.  The Youth Leadership Safety Program allows students to participate in an interactive and hands on learning environment.  After the twelve week program, the students have a graduation ceremony in which their family and friends are invited. 

 

The Juvenile Bureau also participates with the Hackensack Police Department’s Police Youth Academy.  The Police Youth Academy is for 8th grade to 12th grade students who have an interest in law enforcement or public service.  The week long program consists of military drill and physical training, as well as visits to various law enforcement and emergency service agencies.  Some of the agencies visited during the Police Youth Academy are the Bergen County Jail, New Jersey State Police Academy, Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute, and the Hackensack Fire Department.  The Police Youth Academy is a very positive experience for the participants; this allows them to network with their peers and develop a sense of teamwork.  Many of the participants return each year and some of the past participants are now Police Officers in the area.

 

The Juvenile Bureau is an instrumental resource for the juveniles within the Borough of Maywood.  The Juvenile Bureau guides the juveniles in a positive direction and assists parents and guardians with juvenile support issues.