ALBANY, NY (06/05/2007)(readMedia)-- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash and Director of Law Enforcement, Chief James Warwick today announced the graduates of the 8th session of the New York State Park Police Academy. The graduation ceremony was held on June 2, 2007, at the SUNY Institute of Technology in Utica.

“New York State Park Police are highly trained professionals that ensure the proper use of our state parks and historic sites and provide assistance and protection to the millions of visitors to our properties each year,” said Ash. “We are proud to welcome this graduating class to State Parks as they begin their careers in law enforcement”

Ash stressed that park police not only provide security at our facilities, they are also the face of State Parks, providing professional, friendly assistance to our visitors.

Twenty-seven recruits from across the state graduated after the completion of a six-month initial phase of training to become park police officers. Recruits began training in early December, 2006. The recruits received hands on training in firearms, snowmobile operations, basic boat operation, rope rescue and emergency vehicle operation. The diverse training consisted of classroom education in areas such as Parks and Recreation Law, Criminal Procedure Law, Penal Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and criminal investigations.

The new officers will begin a ten week Field Training Program where they will receive supervised training from a senior officer. These new officers will be assigned to patrol responsibilities.

The New York State Parks system includes 178 parks, 35 historic sites, 27 golf courses, 76 beaches and more than 9,000 campsites and cabins that welcome more than 55 million visitors annually.

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Editor’s Note: Below is a list of park police graduates and the towns and counties from which they hail:

Agostinoni, Warren Cairo, Greene County

Bell, Justin Hudson, Columbia County

Biegasiewicz, Simon Batavia, Genesee County

Borkenhagen, Darrell Ransomville, Niagara County

Caughel, Timothy Orchard Park, Niagara County

Cortright, David Clayton, Jefferson County

Daurio, Kris Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County

DeRue, Brett Palmyra, Wayne County

Doughty, Steven Hyde Park, Dutchess County

Girard, Kyle Schenectady, Schenectady County

Greene, Douglas Lewiston, Niagara County

Grizzanti, James Rochester, Monroe County

Hicks, Timothy Clinton Corners, Dutchess County

Horst, Brian Lancaster, Erie County

Jones, Todd Springville, Erie County

Karavas, Dean Greenport, Suffolk County

Lawton, Jonathan Montauk Falls, Schuyler County

Luke, Jonathan Lake George, Warren County

Mennonna, Robert Center Moriches, Suffolk County

Mioglionico, Daniel Fallsburg, Sullivan County

Romanowski, Kimberly Depew, Allegany County

Ruddick, Matthew Sayville, Suffolk County

Rynders, Erik Williamson, Genesee County

Seresky, James Cobleskill, Schoharie County

Southcott, David Watertown, Jefferson County

Szymanek, Raven Williamsville, Erie County

Willis, Gary Tonawanda, Erie County

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Posted Tuesday June 05, 2007 at 02:55 pm by New York State Office of Parks & Recreation