Diversity growing in police departments (VIDEO)

March 12, 2022
6:49 am

TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Twenty new law enforcement officers were sworn in by Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin on Friday. The Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy 25th session had attendees from seven departments in three counties.

Deputy Carisma Collins with the 10-13 Award.

The efforts to diversify the ranks of departments were evident as the recruits marched into graduation, The class included several women and representatives of minority communities. Class Vice President Carisma Collins, a black woman who opted to join the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office after graduating from St. John’s University, was honored by the DC-13 Foundation with the “Sheriff Adrian ‘Butch’ Anderson” award.

The academy is run by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance and staffing from several local departments.

“Today is the culmination of 26 weeks of commitment and perseverance by individuals who have chosen the path of police service within their communities. These graduates have completed an intensive training program that has provided them with a strong foundation to be guardians of their community and to protect and preserve the rights of others,” said Acting Sheriff Kirk Imperati.

“The laws may change, but your common sense should not,” Judge McLoughlin told the young officers. Before asking them to raise their right hands to take their oaths, the judge explained the reason for the hand gesture. “Many years ago, if you lied or said anything that was untrue, they would brand your right hand with the letter ‘P,’ for perjury. So before they would take your testimony, you had to raise your right hand to show that you didn’t have the letter ‘P’ and you could provide testimony.”

The graduates, and their respective departments:

Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office: Deputy Sheriff John Andersen, Deputy Sheriff Travis Beyea, Deputy Sheriff Devin Carpenter, Deputy Sheriff Ishmael Chisholm, Deputy Sheriff Carisma Collins, Deputy Sheriff Kristy Garcia, and Deputy Sheriff Christian McGaw.

City of Poughkeepsie Police Department: Police Officer Gary Beahan, Police Officer Sequan Heard, and Police Officer Christopher Warrick.

Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department: Police Officer Klaus Kutz and Police Officer Tanner Scheible.

City of Beacon Police Department: Police Officer Stephen Donovan.

Town of East Fishkill Police Department: Police Officer Bret Filancia and Police Officer Steven Snyder.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office: Deputy Sheriff Dana Scott, Deputy Sheriff Daniel Stang, Deputy Sheriff Tyler Suchoski, and Deputy Sheriff Micah Weaver.

Town of Lloyd Police Department: Police Officer Cole Nicolis

The new officers were led into the graduation by members of the Hudson Valley Regional Police Pipes & Drums.