A ‘Sobering’ Lesson at BOCES

Lillian Stratton, McKenzie Tansey, Riley VanDenburgh

SCHOHARIE – Aspiring law officers McKenzie Tansey and Riley VanDenburgh practice administering a field sobriety test as classmate Lillian Stratton plays the part of the suspect during a recent class at the Career and Technical Education Center – Schoharie Campus.

The Criminal Justice program seniors in Darin Jones’ class were practicing their skills as they entered the second half of their senior year in two-year program.

VanDenburgh, from Schalmont, is planning for a career as forensic psychologist while Tansey, from Cobleskill-Richmondville, plans to become a state trooper. Stratton, also from Cobleskill-Richmondville, is planning to enter the military and eventually become a lawyer.

“I like to help people and I want to figure out why people do what they do,” said VanDenburgh.

The students are among approximately 100 scholars who are enrolled this year in the two-year criminal justice program offered by Capital Region BOCES on the Albany and Schoharie campuses. Students in the program learn about the history, theory, practices and recent developments in the field of criminal justice, as well as practice the skills necessary to work as police officers, work in the prison systems or work in a security detail.