This week, the Towns of Islip, Smithtown, and Babylon celebrated the graduation of their 2026 Law Enforcement Academy recruits. The graduating class, made up of 17 park rangers, fire marshals, and security guards, spent the past 14 weeks dedicating their time and energy to rigorous training in preparation to serve and protect their communities.
Hosted by Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip), the ceremony was attended by members of the town board, Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Prudenti, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer (D-North Babylon), Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), Babylon Public Safety Commissioner Gerard Gigante, Lieutenant Craig Cain, instructors from the law enforcement academy, as well as community members, and the recruits’ friends and family.
Carpenter said that although this marks the eighth graduating class from the Town of Islip, the program has continued to grow each year, both in size and in resources, noting that it was built from the ground up. She explained that recruits received comprehensive training in areas including law, ethics, communication, and defensive tactics, as well as de-escalation techniques, NARCAN administration, CPR, and First Aid. Through this training and the guidance of their instructors, the candidates are well-prepared to represent and serve their respective towns.
“We are proud of all our cadets and officers who completed this training, becoming better equipped to serve our residents and the public, and we look on with pride as we watch the academy continue to grow as one of the go-to training facilities in the area,” Carpenter noted.
The commanding officer of the Town of Islip Park Rangers and director of the Law Enforcement Academy, Lieutenant Cain, said the past 14 weeks were not easy for the recruits. One of his main goals throughout the program was to emphasize policing principles, and he noted that the growth he witnessed over the past few months was significant.
Mentally and physically, the recruits were challenged week after week, and over time, he saw them grow together as a family, something he described as amazing to watch. He added that Taser and OC (pepper) spray training were among the most difficult moments the recruits faced, as they all had to experience the administration themselves, but they pushed through those challenges together.
He also noted the strong bond formed within the class, sharing that in the final days leading up to the exam, recruits were helping one another study and even spending time together off-duty. Seeing that level of support and camaraderie, he said, made all of the hard work worth it.
Smithtown Park Ranger recruit Chelsy McCann told The Messenger, “It was such a great experience working alongside recruits from other towns. Even though we all came from different towns, we all had the same goal in mind, and that brought us together pretty quickly. We went through a lot as a group, and you definitely build a bond.”
McCann added that the academy pushed her out of her comfort zone but ultimately taught her the power of resilience, showing her that even when something feels difficult, she is more than capable of overcoming it.
The recruits spent countless hours both in and out of training to complete the course. They were expected to maintain a high level of professionalism, beginning with the morning lineup, where shined boots and pressed uniforms were required, something they had to prepare for before even arriving each day. Some recruits said they spent hours perfecting the shine on their boots to meet their instructors’ expectations. The attention to detail not only reinforced discipline but also instilled a sense of pride and accountability that they will carry with them into their careers.
Islip recruit, Robert DeRosa, said the experience was both challenging and transformative. He shared that the most difficult part of the academy was the mental aspect, describing the uncertainty of each day and the pressure that came with it.
As he begins his career, he said his goal is to be both professional and approachable, emphasizing the importance of leading by example within the community.
I want to be an Islip Park Ranger who means what he says and says what he means,” he told The Messenger, “Even outside the department walls, I want to lead the community by example.”
Other recruits, like Islip Park Ranger recruit Tyler Sawicki, spoke about the responsibility that comes with the role.
“I hope to be an officer that others in my department view as a strength rather than a liability,” Sawicki said. “I want to know my job well enough to bring certainty and relief in situations where backup may be needed.”
As the ceremony came to a close, it was clear that the future of local law enforcement is in capable hands. Recruits like McCann, Sawicki, and DeRosa have demonstrated the hard work, resilience, and dedication required to serve their communities. Their strength, mindset, and commitment to growth reflect not only what they have accomplished over the past 14 weeks, but also the kind of officers they are becoming. With a positive outlook and a strong sense of responsibility, they represent a new generation ready to protect and serve, ensuring that their towns remain safe and well cared for.
