Junior Police Academy

Who: Sheboygan Area School District Middle School Students

When: June 23, 2025 – June 27, 2025 (Session #1)

July 14, 2025 – July 18, 2025 (Session #2)

8:30 AM-12:30 PM

Deadline to Apply: Thursday, May 22, 2025

Where: Sheboygan Police Department, 1315 N. 23rd Street

Cost: FREE!

This academy is for students currently in Grade 6-8.

Please scroll to the bottom of this page for the online application.

Taught by School Resource Officers, the Junior Police Academy Program is designed to build partnerships with pre-teen and adolescent students, motivating them to be responsible, involved citizens. This is accomplished by transforming the role of the instructor from “police officer” to “mentor.” The JPA is open to all middle school students (6th-8th Grade) who live or go to school in the Sheboygan Area School District (public or private).

Young people often do not understand what police officers do, or why they do it. Unfortunately, many students view the police officer only in the role of “enforcer.” The Junior Police Academy is designed to take the mystery out of law enforcement and provide a comfortable setting which allows officers and students to interact in an environment free from enforcement. It provides an opportunity for officers and students to see each other as people, rather than as adversaries. While the students that attend the academy may not want to become police officers in the future, the program instills confidence and sense of achievement that will benefit them for years to come.

The Sheboygan Police Department’s Junior Police Academy was established by School Resource Officer Eric Edson in 2008, and since then has graduated numerous middle school students from Farnsworth, Horace Mann and Urban Middle Schools. Typically beginning at the end of June, our twenty-hour,(8:30 AM-12:30 PM) one-week program gives particular attention to inspiring good character and advanced citizenship, fostering problem-solving and good decision-making skills, in addition to technical instruction about police work.

With the assistance of law enforcement officers and other criminal justice professionals, along with the financial support of the Sheboygan Police Benevolent Association, private citizens and other civic groups, our Junior Police Academy has made a difference in helping adolescents develop a strong sense of community and civic responsibility, preparing them to be “tomorrow’s leaders.”

Junior Police Academy Contact: Officer Jonathan Smith
Email: jonathan.smith@sheboyganwi.gov

Junior Police Application Form

Child's Name*
First Last
School Attended*
Grade*
Parent/Guardian Name*
First Last
Parent/Guardian Email*

Please select the session you would like for your child to attend (times are 8:30am to 12:30pm each day)*
June 23rd to June 27th (Session #1)
July 14th to July 18th (Session #2)
T-Shirt Size? (T-shirts are adult sizes. )*
T-Shirt size for the participant. The T-shirts come in adult sizes only.
Emergency Contact Information
Name*
First Last
Relationship to Student*
Phone*
To The Student:
Why do you want to join the Junior Police Academy?*
Parent/Guardian Authorization
Please accept my child's application for the 2025 Junior Police Academy. As a result of generous financial support from local organizations, businesses, and individuals, there is no cost for my child to participate. For that reason, I understand that my child is expected to attend all sessions to successfully graduate and unexcused absences will be cause for removal from the program. By entering this electronic signature, I acknowledge that I have read, understand and agree to all terms and conditions of the program and allow my child to participate in the JPA.
Parent/Guardian Electronic Signature/Name*