Apprentices receive financial assistance and mentorship while the Schenectady Police Department expands access to
law enforcement careers
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Leadership from the New York State Department of Labor, State University of New York, and SUNY Schenectady today announced the launch of a newly updated New York State Police Officer Apprenticeship Program. Seven new Schenectady Police Department recruits signed on today as apprentices under the new program during a ceremony held on the SUNY Schenectady campus.
The Registered Apprenticeship Program gives recruits the ability to earn money while learning essential skills they need to succeed. They will also receive the added benefit of financial assistance and support from mentors to guide them successfully through their Police Officer training.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Public safety is a top priority for Governor Hochul. This program offers apprentices modernized training that will help them throughout the span of their law enforcement careers. This highly effective training model equips apprentices with the skills and real, on-the-job experience needed to keep communities safe, which is something that matters to every single New Yorker.”
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said, “At SUNY, our apprenticeship programs continuously evolve to meet workforce demands, and the New York Police Officer Trade Apprenticeship Program at SUNY Schenectady is the latest example of these advances. We are proud to partner with the New York State Department of Labor on this program to provide more New Yorkers with real-world, on-the-job training and financial assistance to ensure upward mobility for these apprentices as they enjoy successful paths to meaningful careers protecting the communities they serve.”
SUNY Schenectady President Dr. Steady Moono said, “The College is honored to be a driving force in the Police Officer Trade Title update and curriculum redesign. We are thankful for the support and expertise from the Schenectady Police Department, Zone 5 Police Academy, New York State Department of Labor, and SUNY Apprenticeship in these efforts. Through partnerships like this, we can collectively provide the best possible training that prepares our future Police Force to meet the challenges of the profession and ensure adherence to constitutional law, DEI, and community policing best practices.”
SUNY Schenectady’s Workforce Development and Community Education Division, Criminal Justice Faculty, College administrators, officials from the Schenectady Police Department and Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy, representatives from the New York State Department of Labor, and the SUNY Apprenticeship Team partnered to update the police apprenticeship title.
Through the SUNY Apprenticeship Grant, Police Officer apprentices will receive tuition and other supports toward earning their journey worker card and Criminal Justice Certificate. The program provides access to no cost/ low-cost training opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing law enforcement as a career path—with the overarching goal of building a more robust and diverse police force with access to the best possible training in alignment with NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) regulations.
SUNY Schenectady is honored to be part of such an important initiative in support of Police Officers in the Capital Region and across the state.
The apprenticeship program will take place for the next 12 to 14 months, as the recruits complete training with the Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy and then the Schenectady Police Department’s Field Training Officers Program. Apprentices receive tuition and other student support as they simultaneously pursue their journey worker card and Criminal Justice Certificate. The program also includes the support of an experienced mentor within the field to ensure the apprentice Police Officer recruit has the support they need to be successful.
Schenectady Police Chief Eric Clifford said, “This apprenticeship is important because it allows us to cast a wider net to anyone interested in a career in law enforcement. We find that many of our candidates have had family on the job, but we want to let anyone interested in a law enforcement career know that this is an excellent career choice for them, particularly those who might not have someone helping to guide them through the process. That’s where the apprenticeship program comes into play. They will have mentors who will offer support to them through the academy and keep them on track. They will also have financial assistance for things like childcare for example, or financial hardships they might have.”
Director of the Zone 5 Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy Rocco Fragomeni said, “Any advantage we can give to a young person who wants to get into law enforcement or any criminal justice field is a plus. We are doing that through the apprenticeship program by giving new recruits some tools that maybe they normally wouldn’t have and giving them opportunities early. Some of our recruits who don’t make it through the process didn’t have anybody to mentor them and they didn’t follow through. Through the apprenticeship program they will gain that essential component of having a mentor to guide them. The program also allows us to bring people from diverse populations into the profession because of the financial assistance that’s available and the support.”
About SUNY Schenectady
Founded in 1969, SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. SUNY Schenectady is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Through transferable degree and certificate programs, affordable tuition, strong student support services and a personalized approach to learning, SUNY Schenectady provides students with a regionally-acclaimed education that empowers them to take the next step in their lives. SUNY Schenectady offers degree and certificate programs through the:
• School of Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism
• School of Music
• Division of Business, Criminal Justice, and Law
• Division of Liberal Arts
• Division of Math, Science, Technology, and Health
SUNY Schenectady also offers an array of Workforce Development and Community Education services and non-credit courses. Learn more by visiting: www.sunysccc.edu.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
About the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL)
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) oversees one of the largest Registered Apprenticeship systems in the country. There are currently over 17,000 registered apprentices participating in approximately 900 programs across the state. Any business interested in learning more about registered apprenticeship should complete the form on the Department’s portal. For individuals interested in learning more about apprenticeship and opportunities in various occupations, visit: https://dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/
