Wilmington Police Department, Wilmington Fire Department Announce 2026 Youth Public Safety Academy

Wilmington Mayor John Carney, Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos and Chief of Fire John Looney today announced the opening of the application process for this summer's Youth Public Safety Academy, which will be held from Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 26, with the support of JPMorgan Chase.

The 2026 Youth Public Safety Academy is a two-week program for young people between the ages of 13 and 17. The academy will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a FREE program which also includes breakfast and lunch for participants.

Class size is limited, so apply today by visiting WilmingtonDE.gov/YouthAcademy [wilmingtonde.us9.list-manage.com]. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on May 15.

"This academy is about building public trust and investing in the future of Wilmington. By bringing our young people together with the dedicated men and women of our police and fire departments, we're giving them a firsthand look at public service while strengthening the relationships that make our community safer," said Mayor Carney. "I encourage all eligible youth to take advantage of this great opportunity."

Building on the success of past WPD Youth Police Academies and Youth Public Safety Academies from the past three summers, this year's program will again be a joint academy that will include members of the Wilmington Fire Department. The goal of the joint Youth Public Safety Academy is to strengthen relationships between our City's public safety professionals and the people and communities they serve, while providing Wilmington's young people with a better understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of the work of police officers and firefighters.

"This is one of our favorite programs each year, and we are excited to once again invite young people in Wilmington to apply," said Police Chief Campos. "This free program offers youth a wonderful opportunity to spend two weeks getting to know and learn from the first responders who keep their neighborhoods safe. We hope participation might even spark an interest in joining the police or fire department in the future."

"The Wilmington Fire Department is excited to once again partner with WPD for this summer's Youth Public Safety Academy," said Fire Chief Looney. "The academy is a wonderful way to provide young people to learn about careers in public safety, and provides teens with positive interactions with police officers and firefighters as role models and mentors."

Participants will attend a mock police and fire academy involving role-playing, teambuilding exercises, hands-on activities, presentations, and field trips. In addition, there will also be a physical training component. The curriculum features 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.

This year's academy is being presented with assistance from JPMorgan Chase, which has for several years provided support for this initiative. Mayor Carney, Chief Campos and Chief Looney today thanked JPMorgan Chase for its continuing commitment to Wilmington and the residents and businesses of Delaware's largest City.

"Our team at JPMorgan Chase is proud to continue our support of both the WPD and the WFD," said Jeff Pilla, Wilmington Site Manager for JPMorgan Chase. "The Youth Public Safety Academy offers young people in our community with a hands-on opportunity to engage with first responders and learn about the important work they do, and we hope this experience might inspire some to pursue a career in public service."

If you have questions about the youth police academy, please contact Sgt. Brian McCanney at [email protected] or (302) 388-1470.