One hundred twenty Union County middle and high school students graduated Tuesday from the Sheriff's Youth Police Academy, completing a summer program that put them through CPR training, K9 demonstrations, crime scene processing and defensive tactics drills.

The free program is open to any Union County student in grades 7 through 12, a pool that includes Summit, New Providence and Berkeley Heights. Sheriff Peter Corvelli presided over the Aug. 18 ceremony, where each graduate received a graduation packet and commemorative plaque, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The program is hosted annually.

Three recruits earned special recognition for outstanding achievement: Gabriel Pinto, Mikaela Ricardo and Taylor Miller.

Lt. Tara Halpin, Officer Zachary Esparra and Detective Joseph Florio coordinated the academy, which also included motor vehicle defensive driving, arrest procedures and team-building exercises. Partner agencies brought in for demonstrations included the Union County Fire Academy, Union County Prosecutor's Office, Union County SWAT Team, Elizabeth Police Department, New Jersey Fish & Wildlife Police and Scotch Plains EMS.

The Sheriff's Office said the program aims to help young people develop leadership skills, build confidence, strengthen teamwork and gain appreciation for law enforcement and public safety work performed across the county.

Union County Commissioners James E. Baker Jr. and Alexander Mirabella also participated in a Youth Police Academy ceremony earlier in August, presenting certificates alongside Corvelli at an Aug. 6 event that honored 99 graduates. The Sheriff's Office has not clarified whether the 120 figure represents the Aug. 18 cohort alone or a combined total across sessions.

The county program differs from Summit's own Police Department Summer Youth Academy, a separate paid program ($125 tuition) for students entering grades 6 through 9 that ran two one-week sessions in July. The Sheriff's academy is free and covers a broader age range.

Applications for the 2027 Youth Police Academy have not yet been posted. Information on the program is available at ucnj.org/sheriff/youth-police-academy.