Graduation ceremony held in Tarrytown for Westchester Youth Police Academy

High school seniors from all over the county participated in a six-month internship at Pace University where they got a firsthand glimpse into what it's like to be a police officer, all while earning college credit.

News 12 Staff

May 31, 2023, 9:57 PM

Updated 499 days ago

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Members of the Westchester Youth Police Academy graduated Wednesday in Tarrytown.
High school seniors from all over the county participated in a six-month internship at Pace University where they got a firsthand glimpse into what it's like to be a police officer, all while earning college credit.
"They have to submit an application, and if they're accepted, they go through the program and in lieu of school during the month of May, they go to the academy for that time,” says Samantha Schubert, of the Westchester Youth Police Academy. “We've done everything from classroom instruction, where they learn about stuff like the penal law. We've done field trips, like the 9/11 Museum…We had the K-9 unit show up, the marine unit show up. It’s a very life-like thing, they definitely get really good training for it."
Many of the graduates say they are hoping to pursue careers in law enforcement.
“I want to help people out, that’s why I want to be a cop,” says graduate Evelyn Vazquez