Police Academy graduates 13, achieves 100 percent employment rate

The Alfred State Police Academy is proud to announce that 13 recruits have graduated from the 2020 session. This year’s academy yielded a 100 percent employment rate, meaning that all of the graduates were hired by police departments.

Recruits who graduated this year include Isaac Rodriguez, Michael Harrington, Chloe Wormsley, Brian Harrison, Michael Ruggles, Brendan Terry, Tyler Crouch, Tyler Congdon, Gage Harrison, Emily Waite, Steven Brongo, Austin Plank, and Andrew Merring.

Municipalities who benefited from hiring these Alfred State Police Academy grads include the Bath Police Department, Wayland Police Department, Mount Morris Police Department, Hornell Police Department, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Greece Police Department, Alfred Police Department, SUNY Geneseo Police Department, Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, and Bolivar Police Department.

Session Director and Chief of the University Police Department at Alfred State Scott Richardson said, “We are all so very proud of our academy graduates. The stress associated with attending a police academy is immense, and then when you add a pandemic to the equation and civil unrest, the stress level increases significantly for the recruits, as well as the academy staff. This year’s class did not back down from the challenge. They embraced it and it made them stronger. The bond that they all have with each other will last forever.”

Richardson added, “Also, the fact that 100 percent of our graduates are currently employed by police agencies is an accomplishment that makes us equally as proud. It is a testament to the quality of police officers that we are putting out into communities. These young officers have set the bar for future recruits.”

Wendy Dresser-Recktenwald, Alfred State’s chief of staff, said, “Alfred State College is proud of its academy graduates and is excited for their future. Getting through the academy during a pandemic and civil unrest – especially over police – will be a memory they will always have. We are confident we are producing solution-focused officers who will be future leaders.”

Alfred State Police Academy organizers would like to thank the instructors who helped teach the recruits, as well as the municipalities that provided instructors. They include the Alfred Village Police Department, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Bath Police Department, Canisteo Police Department, Cuba Police Department, Finger Lakes Paralegal, Hornell Police Department, Monroe County Humane Society, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, Steuben County District Attorney’s Office, Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, Alfred State, the University Police Department at Alfred State, and the Wellsville Police Department.

For more information and to apply to the Alfred State Police Academy, contact the Center for Community Education and Training (CCET) at CCET@AlfredState.edu or Tammy Edwards at 607-587-4017.