The South Shore Press was on the scene at Patchogue-Medford High School on Wednesday, Feb. 26th, just in time to see Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol Toulon, Jr. ceremoniously honor the several Raiders who graduated from his student ambassador program.
Forty students participated in the inaugural coalition—fittingly entitled the Patchogue-Medford/Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Ambassador Program—including freshman Michael Demasi, who reflected on the accomplishment.
“I feel good, I’m obviously upset the program’s coming to an end, but it’s a great experience,” he told The South Shore Press. “The program is beneficial to students who are interested in going into law enforcement. And even if you’re not, you get a real understanding of what’s going on in the community.”
Discussion points within the educational joint effort mostly surround the topic of public safety, as it pertains to entrusting local law enforcement when they warn one of the pitfalls of being an impressionable adolescent to steer clear of as they grow. This includes schooling teens face-to-face, rather than talking down to them, on relevant subject matter such as cyberbullying, social media safety, vaping and recreational drug use.
“We’re basically exposed to all the different units within their Sheriff’s Office, and it just really gives a hands-on experience to the students,” said Damian Walsh, a Dean at Patchogue-Medford High School. “By getting an understanding of the operations within all of that, you illustrate—and allow the children to see—the different career paths people can take.”
Patchogue-Medford is not the only local school district that partakes in the program. Central Islip High School also maintains a collaborative student ambassadorship program with the Sheriff’s Office.
Two students received $500 scholarships from Suffolk Credit Union at the graduation ceremony, which was held in the second-floor library.
Just after the event’s conclusion, Sheriff Toulon spoke with The South Shore Press about what he believes to be the most important takeaway of the occasion from his vantage point.
“I think it’s most gratifying when you hear students say what they got from the program—and what they can move forward in the community,” Sheriff Toulon said. He added that their mission is “not only to connect with our youth from a law enforcement perspective, but hopefully enlighten them so they can become better people” as well.