Cazenovia College will be closing at the end of the 2022-23 academic year and will not be accepting applications for the 2023-24 Police Academy. We expect the Madison County Regional Pre-Employment Police Academy to move to a nearby college located within Madison County. While the process to transition the Police Academy is underway, we encourage those interested in applying for the next class to share their contact information using our 2023-24 Police Academy Interest Form.
This program is offered through Cazenovia College’s Center for Adult & Continuing Education. It is designed for current civilian or non-sworn New York State residents who are interested in entering the law enforcement field as police officers in New York State. Although the program does not guarantee admission into a police department, every standard required in a full-time basic police academy applies, including physical fitness, attendance, and academics.
Training is conducted by certified police instructors or approved instructors. Cazenovia College provides professional instructors from both the police community and the College to facilitate the appropriate learning environment and meet the rigid standards of the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a transcript and a certificate indicating completion of Phase I of Pre-Employment Police Basic Training. The certificate gives program graduates two years to secure employment in a police department and complete the Phase II portion of the training before being awarded a full Basic School Certificate from the DCJS.
During the Phase II training, police officers must be presented with the three remaining units of the Basic Course for Police Officers, including, but not limited to: Counter-Terrorism for Recruit Police Officers; Firearms Training; and Supervised Field Training Review and Orientation. In addition, each police officer must be presented Impact Device Training and Testing for at least eight hours. Cazenovia College does not currently offer Phase II training.
The Concept
Several years ago many small police departments throughout New York State petitioned the DCJS and the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating the costs of training police officers throughout the state.
Previously, all agencies had to first hire new police officers, send them to a municipal police academy and equip them, while paying their salaries. Small departments found the cost of training too cumbersome.
Pre-Employment Police Basic Training is not a new concept. Thirty-seven other states in the United States conduct it with great success. It relieves law enforcement agencies of the burden and expense of providing Phase I training, but all aspects of regular academy training are essentially the same, except that the student is not a sworn police officer and enters the program as a civilian.
The Police Academy at Cazenovia College prepared me for the work I do every day as a police officer."
