Junior Police Academy celebrates second class cadet graduation

The Warwick Police Department Junior Police Academy (JPA) celebrated a significant milestone last Friday afternoon, graduating its tenth class of cadets since the academy’s inception five years ago!

Family, friends, and community leaders gathered at Mountain Lake Park to honor the grads (the second cadet class of summer 2026) who completed a rigorous 10-day program focused on physical and mental challenges, community, teamwork, leadership, and respect.

After arriving in a police caravan, complete with lights and sirens, the two dozen-plus students filed onto the stage of the lakeside amphitheater in their JPA T-shirts and covers. Town of Warwick police officer, Warwick Valley Central School District school resource officer, and JPA instructor David Serviss served as emcee and welcomed everyone to the event. Officer Serviss’s opening remarks commended the cadets for their efforts and highlighted the academy’s core values.

“[The cadets] have learned about the many responsibilities of law enforcement, but perhaps more importantly, they've developed valuable life skills that will serve them well long after this academy is over: teamwork, leadership, communication, discipline, and respect,” Officer Serviss said. “Today is about celebrating their hard work, perseverance, and personal growth.”

Officer Serviss also encouraged the cadets to contribute positively to their communities, regardless of whether their future interests lead them to careers in law enforcement.

“To our graduates, I want you to know that we are very proud of what you have accomplished,” he continued. “We hope that you have not only learned something new, but also made new friends, created great memories, and discovered things about yourselves that you may not have known before. Today is about celebrating your hard work, perseverance, and personal growth.”

Officer Serviss is one of five JPA instructors, all of whom serve the Warwick community as police officers and WVCSD SROs. The team includes Officer Kat Hulak at Park Avenue, Officer Katie Oresto at Sanfordville, Officer Mark Tooma at the Middle School, and Officer James Feragola at the High School.

As the ceremony continued, Officer Serviss introduced cadet class president Dominic. The three-year JPA participant described this year’s session as his favorite, emphasizing the support and motivation he felt among his peers.

“I’ve seen everybody push themselves harder than they could,” he said with pride for his fellow cadets. “Thank you to my fellow cadets, especially the platoon leaders, for helping whenever it was needed. Thank you, Mama, for signing me up. I'm very proud.”

Dominic also dropped a timely joke about the cadets’ morning calisthenics routine: “The most important lesson I learned is that when a police car turns its sirens on, it doesn't mean that you're in trouble; it means Officer Tooma found out you didn't do your push-ups!”

Next, platoon leaders Mateo and Sage took the podium to share a little more with the audience about the past two weeks—and their own prior-year experiences.

“We get to experience things such as… going to different places like the [Orange County] 911 Dispatch Center, going to TreEscapes, and other places,” Mateo said. “Also, we learn how to stay disciplined, work together, and respect others. We work hard as a team. We do everything together, so when somebody makes a mistake, we all go down together.”

Officer Serviss then recognized the key community partnerships that are vital to the academy’s success, extending gratitude to village and town leaders, as well as the school district. He welcomed Warwick Mayor Michael J. Newhard and Town Councilman Russ Kowal, both of whom praised the cadets for their accomplishment and the program and its organizers. Councilman Kowal presented the cadets with certificates of achievement from the town, encouraging them to continue engaging with their community. Mayor Newhard also applauded the families, the Warwick Police Department, and the Town of Warwick for providing this opportunity, which he described as “very extraordinary, and something very special.”

“The leadership that [the cadets] are being given, the leadership that rubs off on them… it’s really important for our youth of tomorrow,” Mayor Newhard said. “They're learning things that will help them become better citizens and better people, and I couldn't ask for more. Congratulations, cadets!”

To close things out, Town of Warwick Police Chief John Rader joined the group on stage to address the cadets and present their JPA diplomas. Chief Rader urged the grads to carry forward the values instilled at the academy. He also took a moment to explain the long tradition and significance of the “police challenge coin” that each of the cadets received that day. Challenge coins symbolize accomplishment, pride, and belonging in the law enforcement and military communities. Chief Rader expressed his hope that the coins will always remind the cadets of the 10 days they shared.

“I hope it reminds you of the challenges you faced, the friendships you made, the lessons you learned, and the people who believed in you. You earned this coin by being a part of this academy, by challenging yourself to become better leaders, and better members of your community. Keep it somewhere safe… remember that you were once a member of the Warwick Police Department Junior Police Academy, and that you will always be a part of our family. On behalf of the Warwick Police Department, congratulations to all of you.”

After receiving their certificates, the cadets were officially introduced and then dismissed to join their families for an afternoon cook-out prepared and served by members of the police department.

Congratulations to all this year’s JPA graduates. And congratulations and thank you to the Town of Warwick Police Department – especially the district’s outstanding SROs – for another successful summer.