TOWN OF WAPPINGER – Twenty-two members of the Dutchess County Deputy Sheriffs PBA Explorer Post 108 members finished their program for the 2023-2024 year, culminating in “Awards Night” on Monday, surrounded by family and friends.
This year’s celebration was held at Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls through a grant made possible by Dutchess County Legislator Rob Faust, who participated in an Explorer program as a teenager.
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Sergeant Alonzo Montanya is an adviser for the post and welcomed the family and friends of the honorees as well as elected officials including Sheriff Kirk Imperati and District Attorney Anthony Parisi.
Sheriff Imperati congratulated the young Explorers and encouraged them to pursue a career in law enforcement when they come of age. He noted that his agency has specialized units that appeal to a variety of interests including the K9 Unit, Unmanned Aerial (drone) Unit, Marine Unit (boat patrols), and several other areas.
District Attorney Parisi, the county’s top law enforcement officer, also encouraged the teens to consider law enforcement. “There is no higher calling than that of a police officer,” and called it a “noble profession.”
The cadets are broken into two phases: Phase One is the first-year cadets, with Phase Two cadets in their second year of the program. The 2023-2024 class consisted of nine Phase One cadets and the remaining 13 in Phase Two.
All of the participants were recognized for completing the year and several were honored for special achievements.
The special honorees are as follows:
Esprit De Corps:
Cadet Thomas Carr
Cadet Bodin Roth
Most Improved:
Cadet Sophia Vandemark
Top PT – Female:
Phase One: Cadet Jessica Sisalima
Phase Two: Cadet Sgt. Nicholas Mauro
Top PT – Male:
Phase One: Cadet Tim McCormack
Phase Two: Cadet Sgt. Nicholas Mauro
Top Shot (Proficiency and accuracy on firearms simulator):
Cadet Sgt. Nicholas Mauro
Cadet Sgt. Kieran Read
Top Academics:
Phase One: Cadet Griffin White
Phase Two: Cadet 1st Sgt. Daniel Campbell
Leadership Award:
Cadet Captain Kayleigh Soricelli
Top Overall Cadet (Combination of PT, Academics, Scenario Performance, and other miscellaneous factors):
Phase One: Cadet Tim McCormack
Phase Two: Cadet 1st Sgt. Daniel Campbell – for the second year in a row.
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