Sheriff's Scholarship Program Enhances Criminal Justice

The Office of the Sheriff in New York State has a long and respected tradition in advocating the advancement and improvement of the criminal justice system. This occurs in many ways, but the foundation of this effort is education.

The Sheriffs’ Institute, for over 23 years, has provided a $500 scholarship for a student in each of the state’s community colleges that offer a criminal justice degree.

“We are very committed to attracting men and women of character to the criminal justice field,” stated the Sheriffs’ Institute Chairman, Sheriff Ron Spike. “Criminal justice is an extremely challenging occupational field. Because it is so complex and dangerous, practitioners require a great deal of educational training that helps nurture the most important ingredients in the vocation - leadership, ethics and the ability to make quality decisions.”

Where Are They Now?

• Kyle Jones graduated from Hudson Valley Community College and then went on to SUNY Albany and got a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is now an officer with the North Greenbush Police Department.
  
  
• Thomas Sisson graduated from Broome Community College and went on to SUNY Albany where he earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Currently, he is a Probation Officer in Dutchess County.
  
  
• Chris Grimm graduated from Suffolk County Community College and then went on to earn a BA from C.W. Post. He served as a New York City Police Officer for two years and then transferred to the Lloyd Harbor Police Department in Suffolk County.
  
  
• Lydia Ralph, after earning her degree from Suffolk Community College, went on to get a BA in criminal justice from Long Island University. She is currently pursing a law enforcement career in the field of immigration and naturalization.
  
  
• Darrell Day earned an AS in Criminal Justice from Ulster Community College and is currently a police officer with Lloyd Police Department.
  
  
• Jefrysson Aldana, after graduating from Orange Community College gained admission to John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is majoring in Forensic Psychology. He plans to further his education by getting a Masters in forensic mental health and Doctorate
  in forensic psychology.
  
  
• Jeffrey Soja, who after graduating from Mohawk Community College, earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Hilbert College. He now works as a U.S. Park Police Officer in Washington D.C.
  
  
• Colleen Gere, graduated from Genesee Community College and the University of Buffalo, where she earned a B.A. in pre-law. She is currently a New York State Trooper.
  
  
• Joseph Miller, a graduate of the Monroe Community College, is now a police officer with the Ogden Police Department.
  

This is just a sampling of what some of the previous scholarships winners are currently doing. It provides a good reflection of the value of the Sheriffs’ Institute’s Scholarship Program.