SANBORN — One of the largest classes in recent memory recently completed training at the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy.
A class of 21 recruits received their certifications at the academy’s 86th graduation.
The Niagara Falls Police Department will add five new officers, while the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office will add five new deputies. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office graduated three new deputies and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office added one.
Rounding out the class were two new officers with the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Police Department, and individual officers with the Batavia, Lockport, SUNY Niagara and Erie County Medical Center police departments. The class also included one pre-employment recruit.
Niagara County Sheriff’s Lieutenant John Vosburgh and Falls Police Detective Angelo Berti wrote in their message to the graduates that completing the academy training “has provided you with a fundamental understanding of the law enforcement profession.”
“Keep in mind that, as your career progresses, you will undoubtedly encounter people from all walks of life,” they said. “Be compassionate and treat everyone humanely. Your strength of character and integrity were traits that prompted your invitation to the police academy. These same qualities will be essential to each of you every day as you put on the uniform to fulfill your duty of protecting and serving the public.”
As is the academy tradition, six awards of excellence were handed out to class members.
Falls Officer Kyle Shiring received the Det. Lt. Kristina Zell Physical Fitness Award, presented to the recruit who excels in all areas of physical training. It honors the late Falls Police detective lieutenant who emerged from the academy, after being challenged by the fitness training, to become a marathon runner and returned to the NCLEA as a fitness instructor.
SUNY Niagara Public Safety Officer Joseph Indelicato received the Sgt. Jeff Juron Defensive Tactics Award. The award goes to the recruit “who demonstrates exemplary skills in defensive tactics. The skills that Juron possessed led to him being known among fellow officers as “the ultimate backup.”
Lockport Police Officer Samantha Furan received the academy’s Academic Award, while the Scott Barnes Top Gun Award for firearms proficiency went to Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy John Garlock.
Genesee County Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Kennedy was the recipient of the Jeffrey A. Incardona Award. The Incardona Award is presented to a recruit who “demonstrates the same unselfish contributions to others” as the late Niagara County Sheriff’s deputy, who died in the line of duty, did.
And Shiring returned to the stage to receive the Joseph E. Steblein Memorial Award. The Steblein Award, named for the academy’s first director, honors excellence in all areas of training, with the recipient selected by the current academy directors.