Seven students from the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety in Jamaica were among the graduates of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) youth academy on July 14. The weeklong program introduced the students to the real-life training that PAPD recruits normally experience as part of their preparation to become Port Authority police officers.
The youth academy was established in Jersey City, N.J., last summer and was recently renamed in honor of fallen PAPD Police Officer Anthony M. Varvaro, who was instrumental during the academy’s inaugural class before he was killed in a motor vehicle collision on Sept. 11, 2002, while he was en route to work during the 9/11 commemoration events at the World Trade Center.
A banner with the youth academy’s new name was unveiled at the graduation and earlier this month, the PAPD dedicated a wall along the academy’s floor at police headquarters to honor Varvaro’s service.
Varvaro was a 37-year-old married father of four when he was killed by a wrong-way driver on the New Jersey Turnpike. Additionally, he was a former Major League pitcher from Staten Island who joined the PAPD after he retired after six seasons with the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. He played his college ball at St. John’s University while studying criminal justice.
“This academy will provide future law enforcement professionals with a keen insight into what this career is all about. It is only fitting that we’ve renamed the academy for fallen Police Officer Varvaro’s honor,” Port Authority Police Superintendent Edward Cetnar said. “He is the embodiment of a law enforcement career, to serve and protect. We’re sure that this opportunity will assist some of them in making the life decision to follow this career path.”
The program focused on laws that govern police, as well as investigations, physical training and defensive tactics. As part of the curriculum, students learned about the history of the PAPD, its departmental structure, emergency response, first aid, physical fitness and team building. Students received demonstrations from a range of law enforcement and emergency response units, including several PAPD investigation bureaus, fire and safety units, counterterrorism experts and the K-9 unit.
The creation of the youth academy arose from a comprehensive report by the Port Authority’s Leadership Steering Committee on Race Dynamics, which outlined 25 actions and recommendations to be implemented as the agency continues to work toward new standards of excellence in achieving racial and cultural diversity in the workplace. Those recommendations included fostering increased engagement between the Port Authority and the communities which the agency serves.
“In order to sustain the high-quality level of law enforcement the agency provides, we must continue to attract the best and brightest to this profession,” Port Authority Chief Security Officer Greg Ehrie said. “Young people are our future and it’s important that we show them what we do and how important a law enforcement career is to maintain a safe and secure transportation system.”
The seven students from the High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety in Queens were among a class of just 13 students at the PO Anthony M. Varvaro Youth Police Academy. The select program is open to high school juniors and seniors from New York and New Jersey.
In addition to protecting the World Trade Center Campus and JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports, the Port Authority watches over the PATH commuter rail system, and the bi-state tunnels, bridges and terminals including the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, the George Washington Bridge and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.and all Port Facilities including the New York Marine Terminal, New Jersey Marine Terminal and NY/NJ Rail.
