POUGHKEEPSIE – Sixteen cadets in the 26th session of the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy ended their academy training with a graduation ceremony on Tuesday morning. The December 13, 2022 ceremony was attended by family and friends of the recruits that spent the past 24 weeks of training under Dutchess County Deputy Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Detective Kate Capalbo, director of the academy, and fellow academy director, Deputy Adrienne Licari, the recruits worked on team building, physical fitness, and firearms proficiency, and spent a substantial amount of time learning the law.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has been hosting the academy since 1990 and current Sheriff Kirk Imperati served as an instructor and director of the academy for a few years. Speaking to the cadets at Dutchess Community College on Tuesday, Imperati encouraged them to “carve their own paths and strive to be a leader in law enforcement.”
The recruits, representing five different agencies, including the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, heard from City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison, a retired Town of Poughkeepsie Detective with 26 years of police experience, beginning as a 21-year-old part-time DCSO deputy. The soon-to-be state senator told the graduates that “Without public safety, nothing happens,” while encouraging them to enjoy their careers.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who attends every academy graduation, praised the men and women who completed the academy, reminding them that “You are the men and women that we entrust to protect us.” In January, Molinaro will leave his position after being elected to Congress this past November.
Retiring State Senator Sue Serino was excited about the makeup of the graduating class. “This class looks just like our community, and what’s really wonderful is that there are so many women,” she said. The class of 16 included five women.
The following is the list of graduates and their departments:
DUTCHESS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
- Nicholas Botscheller
- Crystal Burnett
- Connor Carey
- Emilie Carrie
- Ryan Hughes
- Gabrielle Rocco – Academy Class President
- Hosanna Santo
- Matthew Stafford – Academy Class Vice-president
- Phillip Vallone
CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Thomas Elem
- Walter Urieta
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Sara Belladone
- John Guercio
- Melvin Hogue II
CITY OF BEACON POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Jonathan Underwood
COLUMBIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
- Kolby Clegg
Awards were presented to the following for their work during the academy:
PHYSICAL FITNESS AWARD
- Melvin Hogue II
FIREARMS PROFICIENCY
- Jonathan Underwood
ACADEMICS
- John Guercio
ESPRIT de CORPS
- Matthew Stafford
“TOP COP”
- Gabrielle Rocco
- Hosanna Santo
The Dutchess County 10-13 Foundation presented their Adrian Butch Anderson award, named for the late Dutchess County Sheriff, to Hosanna Santo, one of the newest members of the DCSO.
