Full Notification

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki, Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos, and Chief of Fire John Looney today celebrated the graduation of the 16 participants in the City’s Youth Public Safety Academy. A ceremony was held at the Wilmington Police Department’s headquarters and the participants were joined by family members and loves ones, in addition to members of the police and fire departments.
 
The academy, which was held over the past two weeks, is a program for young people between the ages of 13 and 17. Participants attended a mock police and fire academy that involved role-playing, teambuilding exercises, hands-on activities, presentations, and field trips, along with a physical fitness component.
 
“We are excited to mark yet another successful summer youth academy, and to congratulate participants on being part of this year’s program,” said Chief Campos. “This is a wonderful program, and a great way to introduce young people to career opportunities in public service. I hope to see some of these participants apply to join our agency in the future!”
 
“One of the primary missions Youth Public Safety Academy is to educate and empower youth by developing their interest in the fire, police and emergency medical service career fields. The last two weeks have been filled with many activities related to our noble professions to meet our mission,” said Chief Looney. “The collaboration between WFD and WPD personnel throughout the academy demonstrated shared core values – professionalism, dedication, perseverance, respectfulness, and service to others. We sincerely thank the Wilmington Police Department for allowing us the opportunity to join forces.”
 
The curriculum for this year’s academy featured a range of topics, including conflict resolution, fingerprinting, crime scene investigation, fire safety, drug awareness, traffic and criminal law, building searches, K9 Unit operations, explosive and bomb investigations, physical agility training (push-ups, sit-ups, light calisthenics), first aid, gang awareness, a discussion about the juvenile justice system, arson investigations, report writing, and internet safety.
 
“The Youth Public Safety Academy is a wonderful opportunity for young people who are interested in public service, or who may simply benefit from positive interactions with our dedicated police officers and fire fighters, to gain first-hand experience about the rewards and the challenges that come with being a first responder in our City,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Congratulations to all of the graduates and thank you to the many WPD and WFD officials who put this program together. I also thank our many community partners for their continued support of Wilmington’s youth.”
 
This year’s academy was supported by a number of partners, including the Police Athletic League of Wilmington, which provided space for academy sessions. Additionally, City Council President Ernest “Trippi” Congo, Council Member Vincent White, and the team at ShopRite of Christina Crossing provided support for meals for each participant.
 
The program was presented with assistance from JPMorgan Chase, which once again supported the effort through outfitting participants with t-shirts and hats, and providing other materials to make their experience memorable. Mayor Purzycki, Chief Campos, and Chief Looney thanked JPMorgan Chase for its ongoing commitment to Wilmington and to the residents and businesses of Delaware’s largest City.
 
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to celebrate another year of this successful summer enrichment program for our youth, and JPMorgan Chase is proud to continue to support this initiative,” said Jeff Pilla, Wilmington Site Manager for JPMorgan Chase. “It is great to hear about the impactful experiences that the youth participants had, and the relationships they formed with some of our first responders.”