Islip Town graduates service workers from Peace Officer Academy

The Town of Islip graduated 11 park rangers and fire marshals from its in-house Peace Officer Academy on Tuesday, March 16.

Town officials gathered inside Town Hall with the Class of 2021, the fourth graduating class from Islip’s New York State-certified program. At the ceremony, Gerald Quigley sang a rendition of the national anthem.

Within the program, candidates spend 130 hours of part-academic, part-physical training. This consists of classroom instruction in criminal procedural and penal law, ethics, communication, daily defensive tactics, physical training, narcan training, and CPR and first aid.

"Our Peace Officer Academy better prepares recruits for service here in our town, teaching procedures and codes directly, as well as providing invaluable opportunities to interact with both our public safety commissioners and other town personnel," Islip supervisor Angie Carpenter said in a press release.

"On behalf of myself, the Islip Town Board and all of us here at the Town of Islip, please know that as you head into your day-to-day duties, you have our deepest gratitude for all you do, and will do. We truly appreciate your efforts," the supervisor said.

The six-week academy is taught by town public safety commissioner Anthony D'Amico, as well as Craig Cain, Thomas Hill, Antonio Ricciardi, Dave Taormina, Cathy Herbst, Bob Iberger, Brendan Kearns, Anthony Lagrasta, Amanda Lerch, Anthony Musumeci, Jeffrey Panasci, Jonathan Rivera and Robert Valletti.

"We're proud of our graduates, D’Amico said. “They're a motivated group who demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm and professionalism.”