POLICE ACADEMY ADVANTAGE; 10 WHO PAY FOR OWN TRAINING LAND LAW ENFORCEMENT JOBS.(Local)
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY) June 10, 2005 Byline: Jim Read Staff writer Brian Engelbrecht, of East Syracuse, says he’s sure paying his way through the police academy helped him get his new job with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s a big jump-start,” he said. “It’s a big advantage when you go into an interview.” Engelbrecht, 22, was sworn in May23 while going through the first phase of training at the Central New York Police Academy at Onondaga Community College.
He is one of 19 candidates to complete an academy program that is the first in the state to offer training to people who have not been hired by a police agency. The program started a year ago at the academy, which serves law enforcement agencies throughout Central New York.
Of those completing the program, 10 have found jobs, said Sgt. Michael Thompson, assistant coordinator for training at the academy and a member of the sheriff’s office. Law enforcement departments have started background checks and other procedures that could lead to the hiring of four more candidates, he said. site law enforcement jobs
The success of the graduates exceeds expectations, said Richard Flanagan, academy director.
“The program is doing exactly what it is supposed to be doing,” he said. “It was all new to us.” Candidates in this program are called “pre-employment” candidates because they pay their own way for the first 16 weeks. At OCC, that amounts to $3,900 tuition plus college fees, textbooks and materials.
If the pre-employment candidate is hired by a law enforcement agency, he or she can attend an additional six weeks of training, which includes firearms and emergency vehicle driving.
Traditionally, the law enforcement agency that has hired the candidate pays his or her salary and benefits while the candidate attends the academy.
Cazenovia College started the same program in September and offers part-time training in the evening and some weekends. Tuition is $3,750, plus expenses.
All 19 candidates in the Cazenovia program graduate Saturday, said Wayne Westervelt, speaking for the college. Of those, 11 have been offered jobs or are in line to be offered jobs, he said.
Hiring pre-employment candidates saves taxpayers money, said Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh, who so far has hired three of them.
Not only has the county saved by not paying a salary for the first 16 weeks of training, but also the county gets deputies the department knows will be able to finish training. site law enforcement jobs
Since the program started, 41 pre-employment candidates enrolled, and 22 of them dropped out.
Under the old system, a candidate who dropped out while in the academy would end up wasting money for the police agency that paid his salary and benefits.
William June III, 22, of Kirkville, is one of the 10 candidates to complete the OCC academy for part-time students that started in September and ended in May. He worked full time at Fun Junction in ShoppingTown Mall in DeWitt until early May, when he resigned to concentrate on the academy.
The training confirmed his decision to become a police officer and also gave him confidence in job interviews, June said.
“It changes your whole life,” he said.
Flanagan said not all the candidates want to be law enforcement officers. Three candidates who finished the training already were working in related jobs, such as security. The training has helped them win promotions, Flanagan said.
Engelbrecht had been studying business in college but didn’t like it. He said he is enjoying his studies now and will put his college credits toward an associate’s degree in emergency management at OCC and then work on a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“I know I love it,” he said. “It’s a lot easier than going to school for business.” You’re hired Ten of 19 candidates completing the pre-employment police academy at Onondaga Community College have been hired by law enforcement departments. Four more candidates are undergoing background checks and interviews for possible employment. Here are those hired and the departments they are joining:
Christopher Cushman, William June III and Brian Engelbrecht, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Brian Dumas and Thomas Leo, Fulton police Matthew Gacek, Sherrill police Timothy Hahn, Skaneateles police Heather Leabo, Camillus police Christopher Schmitt, Oswego police Michael Schreyer, Clay police CAPTION(S):
PHOTO Michelle Gabel/Staff photographer BRIAN ENGELBRECHT gets first-aid training in May at the pre-employment police academy at Onondaga Community College. Engelbrecht, who paid his way through the academy, was hired by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
