TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Twenty-one new police officers and deputy sheriffs took their official oath of office in front of family, friends, and colleagues on Friday at Dutchess Community College. The newly sworn officers graduation took place at Dutchess Community College.
After 13 weeks of intensive, rigorous training, the 23rd session of the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy’s “Basic Course for Police Officers” culminated with the graduation ceremony emceed by Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson who addressed not only the new officers but their family and friends that were in attendance.
Prior to taking the oath administered by Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin, Anderson gave the class just a few additional pieces of advice. “That microphone is always on and the camera is always watching,” Anderson told the class regarding media relations. As it relates to current perceived tensions between police and the communities they serve, the sheriff told the class, “The respect is not really there for us anymore – we have to earn it every day.”
On a daily basis, Anderson tells everyone who works for him to “treat people the way you want to be treated.” He instilled that on the new graduates.
New York State Senator Sue Serino (R, Hyde Park) took a moment to congratulate the class of 17 men and four women. In addition to congratulating them on their hard work and dedication, Serino said “we have your back just like you have ours.”
Serino was followed by Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, who boasted about the professionalism of the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy and the extra training the students receive, including crisis intervention training. Molinaro also took a moment to thanks the families of the students for giving their loved ones to law enforcement so that they can help others.
The City of Poughkeepsie had five new officers graduating from the academy, including Police Officer Danielle Costa. Mayor Rob Rolison was pleased with the ongoing diversity of the force and the ability to expand the agency’s community policing efforts.
With the five new graduates, the department will have 91 officers. Increasing the number of community policing officers, Rolison said that the department will have the chance to “be involved with the community on a more ‘one-on-one’ basis, much like National Night Out.” Rolison also touted other initiatives his administration has developed to improve community safety including the return of a School Resource Officer and the potential to increase the size of the department in the near future to further enhance public safety.
Dutchess County Sheriff Detective Darren Cummings also had the class recite the “Law Enforcement Code of Ethics” to those gathered. The first paragraph of the code says “As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.”
Cummings, Anderson, and Undersheriff Kirk Imperati all stressed the importance of the code.
Cummings runs the academy and is also tasked with choosing the standout students for special recognition. Awards are given for five different categories; Academics, Esprit de Corps, Firearms, Physical Fitness and “Top Cop”.
The recipients for the awards are as follows:
Academics – Joshua Torchia – Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
Esprit de Corps – Scott Hare – Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and Justin Consalvo – City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
Firearms – Scott Hare – Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office
Physical Fitness – John Sullivan – Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Kyriacos Kyriacou – City of Poughkeepsie Police Department
The “Top Cop” award was presented to newly minted Columbia County Sheriff Deputy Joshua Torchia, who also took home the “Academics” honor. The twenty-one graduates will be working in several different departments.
- Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has seven new deputies.
- City of Poughkeepsie Police Department has five new officers.
- Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department has three new officers.
- The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has three new deputies.
- City of Beacon Police Department has one new officer.
- The Town of Hyde Park Police Department has one new officer.
- The Town of Lloyd Police Department has one new officer.
Bryan Sweeney graduated the class as a member of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office but has begun the process of transferring to the Town of Hyde Park Police Department.
