• Must be 18 years of age.
• Have at least 60 college credits by September 8, 2008.
• Pass a rigorous selection process, including a written examination, a physical fitness test, oral interview, psychological evaluation, medical exam, and a full background check prior to addmission; and
• Satisfy the initial application requirements and attend orientation for Alternate Route Candidates where academy life will be explained.

What is the Alternate Route Program?

The Alternate Route Training Program allows a civilian to enter the police academy without first being hired by a police agency. The Alternate Route Candidate trains alongside the regular police recruit and is treated as their equal during training. The Alternate Route Candidate is responsible for all costs associated with their training, presently about $3,000.00. Although this might seem like a large sum, it includes equipment, training and room and board for 22 weeks.

The program is twenty-two weeks in legnth and requires the recruit to reside Monday through Friday at the Training Facility. Course of study includes History of Law Enforcement, The Criminal Justice System, Stress, Ethics, Community Policing, Criminal Law, Arrest, Search and Seizure, Use of Force, Communications, Vehicle Operations, Emergency Medical Care, Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Chemical Agents, Patrol Concepts, Traffic Enforcement, Criminal Investigation, and Physical Fitness.

Additionally the recruit recieves certification in CPR, AED, Red Cross Community Water Rescue, and Radar. The program also includes boxing, simunition training (live fire) and survival shooting. The recruit can recieve additional training and recieve certifications for advanced courses during evening hours on their own time through the Law Enforcement Training Network.

Schedule of Events for Alternate Route Candidates for 2003

The academy will start August 25, 2008.

Alternate Route Candidates can make up 50% of the class. Space available is determined after accepting officers hired by agencies. Depending on the class make up space is often limited. Please apply early. You may contact the police academy at (609) 465-1134 to have your name added to our mailing list for applications.

Applications must be picked up in person at the police academy located at 173 Crest Haven Road, Cape May Court House (NJ Garden State Parkway Exit 11) from 8:30am to 3:00pm Monday, March 3, 2008 through Friday, April 25, 2008. Each candidate must have a recent photo (full face view). There is a $75.00 application fee that covers the background investigation and processing of the application. This should be in check or money order made payable to the County of Cape May. The application must be returned to the police academy by May 16, 2008 by 3:00pm. A passport type photo ID is required with registration form when picking up packet.

A physical fitness test will be scheduled for June 7, 2008 at the Cape May County Police Academy PT Center. The test will start at 8:30am and should last until 11:30am. The test will include body fat, bloode pressure, sit and reach, shoulder flexation, pushups, sit-ups, crunches, pull ups, agility run, 50 yard dash, long jump, and a mile and a half run. The written test will be scheduled for the same date beginning at 1:30pm and should last until 4:00pm. Locker rooms and showers are available and time will be given for lunch between testing.

The final phase of testing is the oral interview which will be scheduled before the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Training Committee during the week of June 16, 2008.

A successful list of candidates will be drawn up in order of your final average of the above three areas. Once a completed background investigations is recieved you will be notified of pending acceptance to the academy July 7, 2008. The final step is a completed medical and physical examination. Notice of acceptance will be mailed July 21, 2008.

Failure to complete any of the testing procecedure on time will result in your removal from the process.

We actively help all our alternate route candidates seek employment and are constantly passing on job opportunities to them. We are very proud of our placement rate. For further information contact Director Gary Schaffer at (609) 465-1134 or e-mail gschaffer@cmcpoliceacademy.com.