Local Resident Graduates From Civilian Police Academy

Kings Park resident and Kings Park in the kNOw Vice President Kim Revere was one of twenty-two graduates of the twenty-ninth class of the Suffolk County Citizens Police Academy. Fellow Kings Park resident and KPITK Board member Kevin O’Hare participated in the ceremony  as president of the alumni association for the academy.

“I’ve recruited 37 people for this program in ten years because it’s a great way for civilians to learn about the day to day operations of our police officers,” said O’Hare.

O’Hare said the sixteen week training is arduous yet comprehensive.  Suffolk County participants get to learn the inning workings of all facets of the Suffolk police force including the marine bureau, search & seizure, the crime lab and the canine division. They also do a ride within a police vehicle for six hours, generally within their own precinct. One portion of the training includes firearms and participants are given the opportunity to fire a weapon and Revere was one of them. 

“The C.P.A. is a wonderful organization that allows ordinary citizens experience a taste of the training that police academy candidates go through,” said Revere. 

Revere’s husband and two daughters were at the ceremony in the Suffolk County Community College Sports and Exhibition Complex to cheer her on.

“I’m very proud of her, she worked very hard to get to her goal and she deserves this diploma,” said her daughter, 13 year old Monica Revere.

Her mother fully concurs with regard to the working hard and says the training was no laughing matter – many candidates don’t end up completing the training because it’s so tough.

Former civilian academy graduate and county executive candidate Angie Carpenter was on hand to give out diplomas.

“It was a sacrifice, a real commitment, you are community leaders and I want to thank you,” said Carpenter.

It is customary for the graduate to pick a representative from their class to address the audience and this year the man of the hour was Douglas King of Amityville. King was born into a cop family and always dreamed of becoming one. However, the spina bifida he was born with in 1972 has left him in a wheelchair and rendered him unable to pursue that dream. King was holding his grandfather’s John Filshie’s police hat while he addressed his fellow graduates and he spoke highly of his uncle Andrew, a retired New York City detective and his cousin John in the 109th in Queens, also of the NYPD.

“This is something I wanted to try – I wondered if I could physically do it,” said King.

He said he enjoyed learning about the history of the department and particularly the anti-terror component of the department – CAT Eyes.

“A bunch of peole from all around Suffolk County made me very comfortable during this experience – I strongly recommend this for people with disaibilities,” ended King.

The graduates presented O’Hare with a check for two-hundred dollars and he offered to add fifty dollars of his own money and gave the class the task of picking a charity for the donation before their first Alumnae meeting on September 21.

Revere spoke about the saying - that police officers put their lives on the line each day and she said she now knows how incredibly true those words are.

“We have the finest trained officers in the country and trust me, they earn every penny of that salary we all hear about.  I wouldn't do it for all the money in the world,” Revere said.