New Police Officer Apprenticeship Program Launches at Clinton Community College
The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), in partnership with Clinton Community College, the SUNY Plattsburgh University Police Department, the Lake Placid Police Department, the Tupper Lake Police Department, and the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, celebrated the inaugural signing ceremony of Clinton Community College’s new Police Officer Registered Apprenticeship Program Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Five new recruits signed on as the first cohort of apprentices under the new program during a ceremony held at the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing (IAM) Building at Clinton Community College.
New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “We need police officers. And that means we need to support the workforce development models ensuring that New York State has the highly skilled and well-trained workforce to fill those very important jobs. Governor Hochul is also committed to doing exactly that. This new registered apprenticeship program will help the recruits signing today gain the skills and real, lifetime, on-the-job experience that's needed to keep communities safe. That is something that will benefit every single New Yorker.”
This innovative program, a partnership between the Zone 9 Police Executive, SUNY, Clinton Community College, and NYSDOL, offers a unique career pathway for aspiring officers to earn a paycheck while learning the essential, hands-on skills they need to succeed in their law enforcement careers. Clinton Community College will facilitate the 12-month program. Recruits will be employed by participating departments prior to beginning their academy training. The academy, which runs from August 17, 2026, to February 8, 2027, will be conducted at the Zone 9 Police Training Academy, located on the Clinton Community College campus, providing expanded facilities and the opportunity to earn college credits toward an AAS or BAS in fields such as Criminal Justice or Human Services.
Clinton Community College President Ken Knelly said, "The departments aren't just participants, they are co-creators, and they're collaborators. The academy becomes the foundation, and the apprenticeship ensures the values we teach carry forward into practice, producing officers who are more thoughtful, consistent, and confident. It also fosters peer support, shared learning, and a sense of accountability from day one, helping recruits grow together and reinforcing these values as they transition into the field. The investment in this program is important because it allows a focus on what matters most, building officers who are prepared, not just for the job, but for the people that they serve."
SUNY Plattsburgh University Police Department Chief Patrick Rascoe said, "Today's signing represents much more than the launch of a new academy. It represents a commitment by higher education, state government, and law enforcement to invest together in the future of policing. This academy stands as proof that when higher education, state government, and law enforcement work together toward a common goal, extraordinary things can happen. Today's signing is not the end of that work, it's the beginning. I have no doubt this partnership will benefit our profession and the communities we serve for many years to come."
Lake Placid Police Department Chief Charles Dobson said, "We need to encourage young men and women to consider policing as an honorable and rewarding career. We need to show them that policing offers purpose, opportunity, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. The apprenticeship model is an important part of that strategy, allowing departments to focus on outcomes instead of upfront costs."