The New Po’Po’ in Poughkeepsie

By Cassandra Clarke and Nile Clarke

The town and the city of Poughkeepsie have newly hired officers within their departments.

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Photo Caption: Left, the two new officers for the City of Poughkeepsie are Joseph Dworkin and Carisma Collins and in the photo are also Police Chief Tom Pape and Mayor Rolison. Middle, the five new officers for the town of Poughkeepsie are John Guercio, Michael Ashford, Sara Belladone, Kaylee Gannon and Melvin Hogue and in the photo with them are Captain Michael O'Dowd, Police Chief Joseph Cavaliere, Captain Laszlo Toth / Left, three additional new officers for the City of Poughkeepsie are Thomas Elem, Gerry Mendez and Walter Urieta-Cruz joined by City Administrator Marc Nelson and Police Chief Tom Pape/ Photo Credit on the Left, City of Poughkeepsie / Photo Credit in the middle, Nile Clarke of The Goodie Drop / Photo Credit on the right, City of Poughkeepsie

These new local officers receive police training upon being hired and will continue with more rigorous training at a police academy. After that, the new officers will have additional on-the-job training during their first year. The materials pertaining to police training from the U.S. Justice Department appear to encourage lots of training for officers, especially on how to effectively do, what is referred to as “constitutional policing” within local communities.

Family, friends and public officials congratulated the new officers as of June 2022. New officer Sara Belladone told The Goodie Drop that she is "looking forward to making a difference in the community". New officer Melvin Hogue added that as officers "they can be whatever, whoever they want to be" and joining the team, "can make a difference as well".

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Photo Caption: Left, the two new officers for the City of Poughkeepsie are Joseph Dworkin and Carisma Collins / Photo credit City of Poughkeepsie / Right, new officer Sara Belladone in the middle with family / Photo Credit Nile Clarke of The Goodie Drop and new officer Melvin Hogue photo credit Cassandra Clarke of The Goodie Drop

“The biggest thing you have to learn is how to understand and how to listen to people.” - Chief Joseph Cavaliere

Newer officers in local New York communities will also get “one on one” training directly from more experienced officers. Officer training also includes diversity, domestic violence, and mental health management training. Maintaining peace, doing investigations, protecting the public and setting up preventive measures continue to be tough police work. The New York SUNY System also offers other educational certificates for police training, prior to being hired in some areas of New York. Police Chief Joseph Cavaliere shared some advice for the newbies saying,"The biggest thing you have to learn is how to understand and how to listen to people".

For more information on how to pursue a career as a police officer in Dutchess County visit this link to read more about the process which begins with civil service testing. This link also provides a way to sign up for alerts regarding tests and other civil service jobs.

Dutchess County Link:

https://www.dutchessny.gov/jobs

Pre-Police Training Program SUNY Ulster Link: https://www.sunyulster.edu/academics/credit_programs/police_program/