president’s report to the community COPS, CORRECTIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE The Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy’s relocation to FLCC in 2023 has strengthened the training program for police and more recently, corrections officers. The first class began in March 2023 with two goals: Improve operations and capacity by using main campus facilities and build closer ties with the College’s criminal justice degree program. The academy graduated its third class, a total of 28 officers, this fall. Jeffrey Keyser, training director for FLLEA, says the arrangement is working well. “At this point, we’re looking long-term. We like it here,” he said. “Everyone around here has been so polite, kind and helpful.” FLLEA is an independent consortium that provides training to sheriff’s deputies and police officers for Ontario, Wayne, Yates, Livingston, Seneca and Cayuga counties and their cities, towns and villages. Students are first hired by a police agency, then attend the academy, which previously used several locations to complete classroom and practical training. Shaina Sexton, a new FLCC Campus Police officer, salutes Police Chief Matthew McGrath during the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy badge pinning in August. PHOTO BY JAYLEA RANSOM FLCC has well-equipped classrooms, indoor facilities for fitness and defensive training, outdoor fields and trails, on-site IT service, and a cafe for lunch breaks. Firearms training for the 24-week program is held at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office range. This year, the academy began offering a 12-week corrections officer training at FLCC. The first class graduated in May. Additional classes will be held as needed, Keyser said. Like the police officers, the corrections officer academy students are also hired by agencies, then sent for training. As part of the partnership, FLCC grants college credit to graduates of both academies where coursework aligns with a College criminal justice class. As of 2024, graduates of the law enforcement academy earn a 24-credit criminal justice certificate, nearly half the credits needed for an associate degree in criminal justice. Similarly, the corrections officer graduates earn the 24-credit corrections officer certificate, which can also be applied toward an FLCC degree. Officers in training, often in uniform, and their instructors have become common sights around the FLCC main campus. The hope is that criminal justice students and law enforcement academy students will have an opportunity to meet and learn about each other’s programs. Several FLCC graduates have enrolled in the police academy, and one police academy graduate, Gavin M. Bassett, has already applied his credits and completed a criminal justice degree. Here is a list of police academy graduates who also hold an FLCC degree, with their FLCC graduation year and program after their names. 2023 Police Academy Sarah L. Becker ’23, Criminal Justice Nicholas E. Fultz ’15, Business Administration Trenton F. Lane ’20, Natural Resources Conservation Law Enforcement Mitchell A. Mestan ’21, Criminal Justice Clarissa A. Robson ’22, Criminal Justice 2024 Police Academy Gavin M. Bassett ’25, Criminal Justice Derek J. Grillone ’18, Liberal Arts Rachel M. Boock ’22, Criminal Justice Jared D. Panek ’20, Criminal Justice David J. Darling ’16, Sports Studies 2025 Police Academy Halie A. Forde ’21, Criminal Justice Leah M. Vaughn ’23, Liberal Arts Eric S. Perryman, Jr. ’24, Criminal Justice Brandon D. Grace ’14, Criminal Justice
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