The city of Newburgh police department graduated it's first class of Junior Police Academy participants on Friday. 

The local youth attended a week-long event where they worked with officers, toured facilities, participated in physical training and saw first hand what policing is like. 

The program came from Newburgh's Youth and Police Initiative, and aims to help prepare local students interested in law enforcement to be ready for the recruitment process. 

"What we're looking to do is better represent the demographic of the City of Newburgh," says Newburgh City Police Lieutenant Joseph Cortez. "The city of Newburgh gives an exam that gives preference to City of Newburgh reisdents, and many times they're not physically qualified and academically qualified, and so we're getting them prepared." 

After this program the graduates can participate in Newburgh's new cadet program, which will continue their training and preparation until they are eligible to apply for the department at age 20.