Youth is served
Explorer academies in Toms River and West New York give kids
a look at the life of law enforcement
At the beginning of the week, the kids struggle to manage
even a couple of push-ups. By the end of the week, they are
completing obstacle courses.
But aspiring youth experienced more than just their improv-
ing physical fitness at explorer academies run by Toms River Lo-
cal 137 and West New York Local 361 during July. They learned
a little bit about what it’s like to be a law enforcement officer.
And, more importantly, they learned about why the community
likes its law enforcement officers.
A closer look at what the participants experienced in Toms
River and West New York revealed the following:
Toms River
When Local 137 member Pam Slavin wanted to create a po-
lice youth academy summer camp three years ago, she was
pleasantly surprised when the chief told her to run with the
idea.
This summer’s weeklong camp took place the week of July 10
to 14 with a total of 50 participants ranging from sixth to eighth
grade.
Although they may be young, Slavin and her team of seven
Local 137 members put these young “cops” to the test. Every
morning they were required to go through “PT,” or physical
State PBA endorses candidates in
Monmouth County
n PHOTOS BY JOHN HULSE
More than 100 members of the Monmouth County Confer-
ence and PBA Locals across the county gathered on the Asbury
Park Boardwalk to show their support for 11th District Dem-
ocratic Senate candidate Vin Gopal and Assembly Reps Joann
Downey and Eric Houghtaling on Aug. 8. NJ State PBA Pres-
ident Pat Colligan, Executive Vice President Marc Kovar and
First Vice President Peter Andreyev attended the gathering to
announce the endorsement.
Colligan took a stan