Two LHS Students Graduating from Police Youth Academy

Two students from are graduating on Friday from the Police Youth Academy, which is offered by the Suffolk County Police Department.

The two Lindenhurst students - Ronald Kennedy and Tyler Valinski - will graduate in a ceremony set for tonight at the Suffolk Community College Brentwood Campus.

Kennedy and Valinski are among 41 students in the second Academy class this year, consisting of students from Suffolk County high schools.

All of the students participated in five days of training in police operations and procedures, including crime scene investigation, laws of arrest, patrol tactics, traffic enforcement and police pursuits.

"The Youth Academy is an educational program that offers specialized training to familiarize the youth of Suffolk County with the role of a police officer; provide them with the opportunity to learn respect for the law; instill in them personal responsibility and the importance of teamwork by providing positive interaction with police officers; and by educating young people about the challenges and responsibilities of police work," explained SCPD officials in a press release about the July 20 event.

Before the ceremony begins tonight the students are also participating in an obstacle course at 9:30 a.m. at the SCCC Brentwood Campus at the Field House on Wicks Road.

The purpose of the timed Police Challenge Obstacle Course prior to the graduation ceremony is to have the students put the skills they learned at the academy to the test, said police officials.

"The physical fitness test is a culmination of what students have learned during their youth academy training. The test will be a simulated police call during which students will run, climb a wall, drag a mannequin and handcuff a suspect," noted officials in the release.

The graduation is set to follow this evening at 6 p.m. the SCCC Brentwood Campus' Lecture Hall.