PARAMUS, N.J. — Before Paramus’ newest cops hit the streets, they got a crash course in the town’s dirt-road-and-celery-field past.

The Paramus Police Department posted photos of the visit Monday, showing Chief Robert Guidetti and members of the command staff bringing the new officers to the Fritz Behnke Historical Museum for a lesson in local history.

Long before Paramus became a Bergen County retail powerhouse, it was a community of farms, celery fields and dirt roads, with roots stretching back to the Lenni Lenape people.

The officers learned about the people and events that transformed the borough, including the George Washington Bridge, which helped connect Paramus to New York and fuel its growth.

They also learned about former Police Chief Barney Martin, who once patrolled the borough’s streets on a motorcycle.

Today, Paramus is a major center for retail, healthcare and business.

The department said the history lesson was meant to give the new officers a better understanding of the community they now serve.

“Understanding Paramus means understanding where it came from,” the department said.

The department thanked Fred Behnke and the museum staff for hosting the visit.

From celery fields to shopping centers, Paramus has come a long way. Now its newest cops know how it got here.