Orangetown Youth Police Academy Holds Graduation

In Alyson Benoit’s first two years with the Orangetown Youth Police Academy she learned about various emergency service units, the military, defensive tactics and more.

Iin her third year she learned about another valuable skill: fundraising.

When youth programs, including the youth police, were cut from the Orangetown town budget, Benoit and others didn’t want to see their fellow youths go without the same opportunities they themselves had taken advantage of in the past. They created the Honorable George Bergerman Youth Activities Fund with the help of Lt. Don Butterworth of the Orangetown Police Department. 

The fund was named after Benoit’s grandfather, a New York State Supreme Court Judge from Piermont with an office in New City, who died in 2005. The group raised $5,000 this year, and on Friday, the Orangetown Youth Police Academy held its 16th annual graduation.

“[Orangetown Police] Chief [Kevin] Nulty believed in this cause. Captain [Robert] Zimmerman believed in this cause. The town board believed in this cause. [Town Clerk] Ms. Charlotte Madigan believed in this cause,” Benoit said Friday. “Local citizens of Orangetown, local businesses and organizations believed in this cause. Together we made this happen.”

Benoit, an Albertus Magnus student, was one of six interns in the program this year. Interns are previous recruits that come back and help out. Due to having less money for the programs and budget cuts to the department overall, fewer officers were available to work with the students in the program. Detective Joseph Sullivan, the class advisor, said that made the extra interns add a great deal of help. This year the class had 12 graduates.

The program was normally two weeks, but financial constraints cut the academy to just a week this year.

“Academy class of 2012, you got off easy,” Benoit said. “You missed out on a whole second week and physical training and defensive tactics and Fire Training Center, where we run into the burning building, and water safety and the trip the New York City. So I challenge you to come back again in June and do it all again.”

Nulty congratulated the students on bringing back the program, as well as completing it. He also congratulated the parents in attendance Friday at the ceremony held at Orangetown Town Hall.

“In the end, it’s their enthusiasm and their commitment that makes this program work,” Nulty said. “But there’s one other component that makes any program work in this town, and that’s you right there. I know we have the parents support and they bring them here every morning and encourage them.”

Town Supervisor Andy Stewart said the program is a great way for students to learn about policing, the fire department, emergency responders and the military.

“It’s great to see the spirit that the police officers who run this program bring to it,” Stewart said. “I think the students benefit enormously. Certainly, speaking as town supervisor, it’s another example of seeing how Orangetown works both effectively and competently, but also with heart.”

The students learn a bit about all the different agencies, and it is used as an educational program to help younger people see if a career with one of those organizations might be on interest down the line. They also took a trip to West Point this year to learn a bit about the military.

Benoit, who was also the class leader, asked the parents and adults in the crowd to help the fund’s efforts to make sure youth programs in Orangetown have at least a bit of their own money to rely on. She said the fund needs board members and help going forward. On Tuesday July 24, proceeds from ticket sales to the Rockland Boulders game at 7 p.m. will be donated to the fund. For $15, guests get a ticket to the game and a food voucher for a hot dog and drink. Tickets can be purchased on the Boulders website under “Fundraiser Tickets.”

But it’s not just the adults Benoit wants help from going forward with the fund. She also wants help from her peers to make sure they can add back in that second week, with the physical training, defensive tactics, trip to the Fire Training Center and more.

“Fellow members of the graduating class, I need your help to put those elements back into the academy,” Benoit said. “I need you to join our fund so that we can keep our academy for years to come, as well as other youth programs.”

Orangetown Youth Police Academy Class of 2012

• Louis Clements
• Michael Clements
• Ryan Fidlow
• Kathleen Gallagher
• Michael Mingione
• Ryan Mullahy
• Aiden Noonan
• Brendan O’Brien
• Owen O’Loughlin
• Anthony Ricci
• Joseph Schiavone
• John Schwantner

Orangetown Youth Police Academy Interns

• Alyson Benoit
• Linnea Chesman
• Kenneth Gordon
• Nicholas Gucciardo
• Liam McGarry
• Orla McMahon

Awards

Chief John McDonough Medical Training Award

• Anthony Ricci

Dr. Edward Fisher Esprit De Corps Award

• Alyson Benoit

110 Percent Award

• Ryan Mullahy

Detective James Neeck Instructor’s Award

• Brendan O’Brien

Detective James Nawoichyk Leadership Award

• Kenneth Gordon

Drill Instructor’s Award

• John Schwantner

Chief’s Award

• Louis Clements