TOWN OF FISHKILL – Town of Fishkill Police Cadet Isabella Nocerino has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant. The four-year veteran of the program was promoted by the program’s advisor, Fishkill Police Detective Jason Betley.
“Nocerino was an easy choice,” said Betley. “She’s been dedicated for over four years, has been through other ranks, spent two years in the cadet academy, and was the 2019 Cadet of the Year award recipient.”
Nocerino, a 2020 graduate of Beacon High School, began her interest in law enforcement by attending the Beacon Youth Police Academy at the urging of her father, in the summer before high school. “As the weeklong academy came to a close, I actually ended up loving it,” exclaimed the young lady. “I went back to the summer camp the following week where one of the counselors was a lieutenant in the program (Fishkill Cadets). The lieutenant invited me to a Fishkill meeting. I went back week after week and never left.” Nocerino is pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice at Dutchess Community College.
Detective Betley said Nocerino has received numerous awards in addition to Cadet of the Year, including Perfect Attendance, Honor Guard Recognition, and the Leadership Reaction Award.
Betley tells each of the cadets, “You get out of this program what you put into it,” and Nocerino confirmed his assessment. “My promotion brings me a great deal of pride,” said the aspiring cop. “I worked hard, I learned as much as I could, I trained as hard as I could, and I pushed myself both mentally and physically and it has finally paid off.”
As a lieutenant, Nocerino is tasked with being a liaison between the cadets and the advisors to make sure the program runs effectively while preparing cadets for their personal, academic, and occupational futures, in law enforcement or other fields.
Town of Fishkill Police Lieutenant Paul Schettino called the program “An important tool to help young people determine if a career in law enforcement is in their future.” The veteran law enforcement officer added that “Detective Betley and Sergeant Jason Murtaugh do a tremendous amount of work in maintaining a cadet program that has been in existence for around 30 years – and they do a great job with it.”
The program is open to individuals between the ages of 14-22. The cadets meet for two hours every Thursday for classroom participation and hands-on training. Detective Betley noted that, prior to the pandemic, cadets assisted the town’s dispatchers and participated in ride-alongs with the town’s police officers. “We are hoping to return to those activities soon.”
City of Poughkeepsie Police Captain Steve Minard began his career as a cadet in the program at the age of 14, leading to an appointment as a Town of Fishkill officer at the age of 20. Minard endorses the program, saying it “provides a great opportunity for those considering a career in law enforcement to see the job from a first-hand perspective.”
Captain Minard noted that the program provides experiences in many aspects of policing, saying, “The program provides formal and practical training in policing. It allows the Police Cadets to ride with experienced police officers and learn about policing, the complexities of the job, as well as the opportunities to serve the community and help the citizens. The Police Cadet Program provides the foundation for understanding ethics and professionalism including treating everyone with compassion, dignity, and respect.”
Interested participants can download the Town of Fishkill Police Cadet Program application here.
