By BRIAN DONOHUE
Red Bank Police Chief Mike Frazee congratulates members of the department’s first ever junior police academy summer program Friday at the Red Bank First Aid & Rescue Squad building on Spring Street. (Photo by Brian Donohue)
Twenty-six members of the Red Bank Police Department’s first-ever junior police academy program were honored with a commencement ceremony Friday.

The weeklong program for students aged 8-12 is designed to introduce them to the basics of law enforcement, teamwork, leadership and community building. Students met with an FBI agent, canine police officers, and detectives to learn the ins and outs of police work.
It was launched this year for the first time.
“Today is a very special day because we are celebrating something new,” Lt. Jorge Torres told graduates and their parents. “When we started this program our goal was to teach you about law enforcement, teamwork, responsibility and what you need to serve the community. But as we went on, we realized something important. We were learning from you, too.”
Here is the complete list of graduates:
Kevin Ortega-Mendez
Sawyer Montalbano
Summer Montalbano
Clayton Simmons
Oliver Sebastian Rojas
Jaxon Figueroa
Thomas Wieczerzak
Vanessa Cortez
Bella Olivares Tlatelpa
Emma Smith
Nico Garita
Matthew Garita
Jaxson Jennings
Kimberly Lopez-Hernandez
Louis Giron
Daniel A. Capulin Paez
Chase Meier
Jon’Mek Georgie Wright
Asher Stephan
Andrea Casa
Alexa Cruz
Alice Patra
Rosalie McCall
Skylar Pierce
Melvin Pierce
Angel Villegas
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331.
