Crime & Safety
Rivertowns HS Students Complete Youth Police Academy
Dobbs Ferry, Irvington and Ardsley high school seniors finished up the six-week program and celebrated their graduation today.
Five Rivertowns' high school seniors were among a group of 31 students countywide who graduated from the Westchester Youth Police Academy today at Pace University in Pleasantville.
The students underwent a grueling program involving physical training, lessons from law enforcement experts and hands-on learning to earn certifications today.
According to Croton-on-Hudson Police Det. Cliff Gabrielsen, the WYPA came about nine years ago to give Byram Hills High School seniors a chance to experience an internship-type environment in the field of law enforcement. It has since expanded countywide.
The program for the past few years has operated mainly out of Pace University's Pleasantville campus—space the school offers to the WYPA gratis.
"We want to give students a well-rounded perspective of law enforcement and also the criminal justice system," noted Gabrielsen. "We wanted them to experiences themselves some of the things officers encounter on a daily basis."
Under the direction of Gabrielsen, Ardsley Det. Tony Vacca, Sleepy Hollow Police Officers Craig Kelly and Wendy Yancey and Peekskill Police Officer Pamela Sgroi; the students have spent the last six weeks learning from local experts in the field.
The 31 2013 graduates come from Sleepy Hollow High School, Alexander Hamilton High School, Fordham Preparatory, Dobbs Ferry High School, Croton-Harmon High School, Westlake High School, Mamaroneck High School, Byram Hills High School, Ardsley High School, Fox Lane High School, Irvington High School, Lakeland High School, Peekskill High School and Somers High School.
The local students include:
- Anthony Cialini — Dobbs Ferry High School
- Justina Donaj — Dobbs Ferry High School
- Alexander Lessem — Ardsley High School
- Ciara Lopez — Dobbs Ferry High School
- Brett Pastore — Irvington High School
Ramon Searight of Peekskill High School recalled a day where the squads got a chance to work with Pleasantville Police Officer Erin Holly, who taught them some defensive tactics.
Students also learned about the Penal Law, juveniles, substance abuse, field skills like handcuffing and shooting, held a mock trail at the Westchester County Courthouse and visited other county resources like the Forensics Lab and Mount Pleasant Shooting Range over the six-week period.
New York Sen. Greg Ball (R, C — Patterson) congratulated the students at today's ceremony.
"I think you need to be a little selfish over the next few years," he told the students. "You need to to take and squeeze the life out of every day and every hour and every opportunity."
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