Third Round of Somerset County Police Academy Scholarships Announced for Seven Departments

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County’s Board of Commissioners and Prosecutor’s Office announced the opening of a third round of police academy scholarships following the successful initial offering. The scholarships, funded by the American Rescue Plan and overseen by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s office, are focused on helping local police forces diversify to ensure they reflect the local community.

Seven departments have chosen to participate in the third round of scholarships: Bound Brook, Branchburg, Bridgewater, Manville, Raritan, South Bound Brook, and Watchung. These departments have committed to providing two years of employment as an officer to scholarship recipients who successfully complete their Police Academy training.

Applicants must be 21 years of age, an American citizen and resident of Somerset County, speak and write in English, have earned at least an Associate’s degree or 60 college credits, be of sound mind and body, and able to pass a written, physical, and medical examination administered by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

Third round applications for the Somerset County Police Scholarship can be downloaded online at http://soconj.gov/policescholarship or requested at becomeasomersetcountypdcop@co.somerset.nj.us. Applications are due by Friday, Jan. 19, at 4:30 p.m. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

As has been noted by various studies and self-assessments, the makeup of local police departments is not reflective of the communities that they serve. Specifically, police departments throughout the State of New Jersey and in particular Somerset County do not have officers that adequately reflect their communities.

Local police department hiring often selects from applicants who have already completed their police academy training and qualifications, a process that can cost up to $50,000 and often precludes working while attending academy. Somerset County’s scholarship program will not only cover the cost of tuition and materials, but also provide qualified applicants with a stipend for personal expenses so they will not require outside employment. The goal of the scholarship program is to remove the financial obstacles that residents may face and assist police departments in recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds that better reflect the communities in which they serve.

Somerset County has been successfully partnering with municipalities and local law enforcement since 2020 to improve the relationships between communities and police. A major step forward was the Community Policing Alliance partnership developed with the Bridgewater Police Department that embedded a county-employed social worker with the police to help individuals and families find help and support to reduce the need for law enforcement and the courts to get involved. This program has been a significant success and has made a difference in many lives.

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