If you’re interested in a rewarding career where you can make a real difference in the world, consider earning a Criminal Justice A.A.S.! This program differs from the traditional A.S. program, as it is designed for graduates to go directly into police and security work. The degree is often combined with a 30-credit Police Basic Training program.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of police and detectives is expected to increase by 7% between 2016 and 2026. The A.A.S. Criminal Justice degree prepares students for this with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for entry-level positions as police officers, corrections and community supervisors, and security guards in the private sector. This program is also ideal for corrections or police professionals already working in their chosen fields who are looking to earn a degree for self-improvement and advancement.
More than 80% of graduates who also completed the Police Basic Training program are currently employed as police or corrections professionals. Completion of both programs leads toward New York State municipal police certification. The combined programs provide an ideal situation where students graduate already prepared for employment, saving their communities significant time and community resources for training.
Many Criminal Justice A.A.S. graduates do exceedingly well as developing professionals and are now in leadership positions. Graduates perform meaningful work in their community while also earning attractive salaries and benefits. Potential earnings in New York State average $78,930 at the 50% mark, which increases if employment is found with state or federal entities.
Sophie Epstein, a recent graduate, says, “I loved the Criminal Justice program at SUNY Ulster. I strongly feel that the program helped to better prepare me for success in both Police Basic Training and my career in law enforcement! The professors teach you so much more than what is in the textbooks – they teach based on their experiences in law enforcement, which made class very enjoyable! I would recommend the program to anyone who is considering entering the law enforcement field, or anyone who is looking to learn more about the criminal justice system!”
The Public Safety department is much more involved in your college experience than you may think, as they protect campus every minute of every day. We may only get the chance to hear from them when we get parking passes, I.D. cards, and RAVE alerts, but they work hard to keep SUNY Ulster a safe learning environment for everyone in our community. Taking swift action that keeps us comfortable on campus is their strong suit, and they’re well equipped to handle a wide variety of situations.
So Safe You Don’t Even Think About It
The Public Safety department ‘practically manages a small village’ on campus to keep our students and staff safe on a daily basis. Officers are here and constantly vigilant 24/7, regularly patrolling the grounds to ensure that the college is secure at all times. There are NY state sheriffs on campus daily that patrol the grounds and always stop by the Public Safety department where they have a satellite office. There’s even a seasonal bike patrol present to promote added surveillance and safety in the Summer and Spring.
Hasbrouck Hall call box located just outside Public Safety Office
Outdoor call box located near Lot B, outside Hardenburgh building
There are abundant resources available to you if you need them, some you may not even know about! One safety feature that may seem like part of the furniture are the outdoor blue call boxes scattered all around campus with a light on top. There are also bright yellow call boxes indoors all throughout the campus. They are pretty important; they’re call boxes that connect the user directly to a peace officer. They are guaranteed to get your message as it not only goes to the office, but also the officer’s radio and cell phone. If you wanted an escort to your car on a dark night, just pick up one of these phones and hit the button. One of the officers is happy to meet you where you are on campus to make sure you and your car can get on your way safely.
Our Peace Officers Have Your Back
Ever forgotten to turn off your headlights? Don’t kick yourself too hard. If your car is parked on campus, just call Public Safety, they will come to your rescue with a battery starter. The security staff on campus are plentiful and well trained across the board of safety. Whether the situation is big or small.
Surveillance is always present to keep college community members and all their belongings in the building safe. New cameras were recently added to additional areas on campus such as in the cafeteria and in the parking lots. More cameras are set to be installed in the elevators and other spots very soon.
The various badges of police, fire, and medical personnel that have worked as a Public Safety officer at SUNY Ulster are proudly displayed on Chief Freer’s office wall.
They rely on us just as we rely on them; if someone sticks out as suspicious on campus or seems to be agitated, don’t hesitate to call public safety! Though you might feel uncomfortable by someone’s presence or behavior, this is exactly what our security staff are trained for. They want to make sure everyone stays safe and sound using their various medical, fire, and police force training. There is never any harm in getting an officer to talk to another person if they make you feel uncomfortable. Your name and information can always be kept anonymous, everyone deserves to feel safe in their home for learning.
Trained for Everything, Ready for Anything
Currently, we have twenty-three officers and all but two of them are known as peace officers. What this means is that they have more power and potential to keep things cool on campus. While they rarely use it, they have powers of arrest and to order mental evaluation. They are also trained, certified, and qualified to carry weapons as armed guards.
Almost all of these professionals have a long history in law enforcement work and safety training. Most officers also have experience in high school and college towns before they are hired to make sure they are the most apt for the job.
Chief Freer’s Peace Officer badge, similar to the ones carried by all peace officers at SUNY Ulster
Chief Wayne Freer is our man in charge; he has had over thirty-five years of law enforcement experience. He is both the director of public safety and the chief of law enforcement. He has been with us at SUNY Ulster for seven years, fostering wonderfully low crime rates on campus. He and his staff have their eyes and ears peeled to all the crime and emergencies locally.
Always In The Background
I bet you didn’t know that the public safety team are involved in every campus event you’ve ever attended. These folks make sure that everything is up to code for public events and ensure that everything is accessible by wheelchair.
Also, behind every door lock and key is one of Chief Freer’s team. These men and woman are responsible for making all keys and lock cylinders themselves. They use a press tool to cut keys and make inner locks so that they are all perfect fits.
So next time you see one of our safety personnel in uniform, make sure to think about just how involved they are in your college experience. They’re here to help whether we realize it or not. If you see something suspicious or just have a question; give them a ring and set your mind at ease because no matter what the situation these folks are more than ready to handle it and answer all your questions.
