YAB Alumna Julia Manning Sworn In As First Female Officer With The Park Ridge Police Department

On the evening of July 11, 2023, New Jersey Youth Advocacy Board alumna Julia Manning was sworn in as the first female police officer in Park Ridge, New Jersey.

Julia was the recipient of the 2019 D.A.R.E. America Louis ‘Skip’ Miller National Scholarship Award.

During her three years as a Youth Advocacy Board member, some of her many projects were:

• Implementing D.A.R.E. at the middle school and high school levels;
• Implementing the K-12 opioid drug abuse prevention lesson program;
• Creating PSA videos about the dangers of opioids;
• Conducting DWI reenactments at her school before prom and graduation;
• Having recovering addicts speak to the health classes about their struggle with addiction and how they have sought help;
• Helping Park Ridge Police Department bring the “NOT EVEN ONCE” programs to the junior health students. This program educates students on the dangers of opiates;
  Speaking at the 5th grade D.A.R.E. graduations in her town; and
• Participating in local town events such as; “coffee with a cop”, Back to “scoop” night, Elks “walk out on drugs”, and speaking to the middle school and underclassman about her experience with D.A.R.E.

The Park Ridge Police Department has been actively supporting the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program since 1989.