Orange County's First Police Academy opens

[Guest ocff75]

Orange County's first police academy opens

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...30312/-1/NEWS14

Times Herald-Record

October 23, 2006

Stewart Airport — At 1:48 p.m. yesterday, a ribbon was cut and 30 gray-clad, black-capped police recruits marched up the concrete steps into a brick building on the old Army subpost at Stewart International Airport.

This was a historic moment for Orange County: It marked the opening of the county's first police training center.

"It's long overdue," said Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois.

For many years, Orange County police departments sent their recruits to Rockland County for basic training.

The Police Chiefs Association of Orange County wanted for years to have a training site in the county, but it wasn't until now that things fell into place for the group.

It started when New Windsor police Chief Michael Biasotti — the association's secretary — learned that a suitable building could be leased for $1 a year from First Columbia, which is developing airport land that the town took over from the Army.

From that, a chain reaction of offers to volunteer labor, materials and equipment began. Biasotti estimated that more than 90 percent of what was roughly a $250,000 project was donated.

Work proceeded quickly on the former military police subpost, starting in May. Abandoned for 15 to 30 years, it was "home to nothing but vermin a few short months ago," said New Windsor Supervisor George Green.

A PowerPoint presentation held in the building yesterday showed the progress of the work on the classrooms, offices and kitchen.

Just about everything is now ready for the cadets, except for some "smart blackboards" — which can be written on and also offer Internet access — that are due shortly.

Up to 36 cadets can participate per session, and Biasotti said there are usually two classes per year, plus in-service training for those already on a police force.

County Executive Ed Diana tried to start a county-run police academy earlier this year, but the deal fell apart.

While the new academy is primarily for Orange County communities, the first class includes a recruit for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips said the academy shows just how far police training here has come.

When he hired the late Charles Dino, a veteran of the Middletown force, as his chief investigator 20 years ago, Dino described for Phillips his basic training 33 years earlier:

After he took a written exam, he was asked a few questions: "You were in the Army, right?" "Yes." "You know how to fire a gun, right?" "Yes." "OK, there you go."

02-06 Dept. Class Roster.New Windsor, NY County Distrist Attorney, Orange County Sheriffs Office, City of Newburgh, City of Middletown,Town of Cornwall, Town of Newburgh, Town of Chester, Village of Liberty(Sullivan Co) Town of Highlands, Town of Deerpark, Highland Falls, Town of Crawford Police Departments

Edited October 24, 2006 by ocff75

[Guest]

I know someone going through the Orange County Police Academy and he says it is hard as hell. He told me they run several miles per day and get yelled at constantly. Sounds like a pleasure!