County officials today announced a plan to close the Burlington County Police Academy after the current class graduates next month, citing dwindling enrollment that does not justify the cost of the $377,000 program continuing.

The class scheduled to started March 15 has been cancelled and all operations thereafter will cease, said county Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio and county Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi this morning.

Bernardi presented the plan to the freeholder board in its closed-session conference meeting Wednesday night. The board is scheduled to vote on the proposal next Wednesday at its public meeting.

The move, official said, is in response to “diminishing enrollment of Burlington County basic recruits and to effectuate cost-savings in the 2010 county budget.

Earlier this month, Garganio asked all county department heads to look at ways to trim their individual operating budgets in light of an estimated $15 million shortfall in the 2010 budget.

This year the police academy program, which is run out of Burlington County College in Pemberton Township, was expected to generate $16,000, but cost $377,000 to operate.

Bernardi said it is the only “optional program” that he can cut from his department’s budget.
BCT staff writer Danielle Camilli can be reached at 609-267-7586 or dcamilli@phillyBurbs.com.