Hillsdale Boy Commended By Police For Saving Cousin

HILLSDALE, NJ – A 13-year-old Hillsdale boy was recently commended by police for using the skills he learned at Youth Leadership Academy to help save someone’s life.

Over the summer, Joey Dargan was on vacation with his family when his younger cousin began to choke on food. After realizing his cousin couldn’t breath, the teen performed the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food, according to Hillsdale police.

Following the save, the George White Middle School 7thgrader told his mother he was just putting into action what Hillsdale police officers taught him to at Youth Leadership Academy.

Hillsdale Police Officer Michael Camporeale, who helps coordinate the department’s annual junior police academy program, said they learned what happened from Joey’s mother, who came to headquarters the day the family returned from their trip to share the good news.

Earlier this month, the department presented the teen with a life saving plaque.

The academy – which marked its second year this summer – is coordinated and led by Camporeale, Officer Dave Sayers, Officer Alex Kaplan and Officer Brian Considine. The week-long program, which is open to 5thand 6thgraders, includes emergency service demonstrations, physical fitness training, field trips and classroom instruction.

To learn that the lessons are resonating with their kid cadets “is a great feeling,” Camporeale said.

“Our goal for the academy is for kids to have fun and build confidence in the kids as well. Police Officer Sayers and I are also D.A.R.E. instructors, so all of the kids know us personally and are comfortable with us. We try to make it as fun as possible but also challenging. Seeing the kids come in nervous and timid and then to not wanting to leave at the end of the week and working as a team is also a great feeling,” Camporeale said. “All of us agreed that this is probably going to be one of the top moments of our careers.”