Governor Shapiro Nominates LC Police Academy Director for Commission Position Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro nominated Lackawanna College Police Academy Director and retired Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Kevin F. Mahoney to serve on the Municipal Police Officers’ Training Commission (MPOETC). Mahoney’s nomination was unanimously approved by the Pennsylvania Senate on June 21, 2023. The Municipal Police Officers’ Education & Training Commission, consisting of 20 members appointed by Governor Shapiro, began in 1974 to establish certification and training standards for Municipal Police Officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. One seat on the Commission is appointed to a certified Police Academy Director, previously held by Harrisburg Area Community College Police Academy Director Patricia Dombrowsky. Mahoney served with the Pennsylvania State Police for over 25 years before joining Lackawanna College in July 2021 as Assistant Director of Police Academy Operations, and was appointed Director in May of 2022. At the time of his retirement from the State Police in June of 2021, he served as Commander of the Criminal Investigation Section for Troop R – Dunmore, encompassing Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne and Pike Counties. “I am honored to have been selected by Governor Shapiro to serve on the Commission, and look forward to working closely with my fellow Commissioners to accomplish our shared goals in support of Law Enforcement Training in the Commonwealth,” Mahoney said. Lackawanna College operates Police Academies at both their Hazleton and Scranton campuses. The enrollment period is currently open for both programs, which are scheduled to commence in October 2023 (Hazleton) and January 2024 (Scranton). For more information, please visit https://www.lackawanna.edu/certificates/police-academy-act-120/.
Lackawanna College Police Academy Graduates Sponsored Police Academy Cadets Ten cadets graduated from the Lackawanna College Police Academy on Dec. 2, ready to begin careers in law enforcement with the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre police departments. The newest group of cadets make up the 255th graduating cadet class and are part of a partially funded program by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC). Municipalities are eligible for partial reimbursement if they hire a cadet prior to the start of an Academy training program. “The Academy staff and administration are proud of the graduates of class 255,” said John Chilleri, Director of the Lackawanna College Police Academy. “This is the first class where all cadets were hired as full-time officers by a municipality prior to the start of the program.” The partnership between the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre police departments, MPOETC, and Lackawanna College to train cadets is an example of the commitment the College has made to meet the needs of law enforcement in NEPA. “We are very excited to have our four officers fully trained and certified,” Chief Joseph Coffay of the Wilkes-Barre Police Department said. “They will be an added asset to the department and I am sure they are happy to finish their academic requirements and are happy to begin their career serving the citizens of Wilkes-Barre.” Thanks to an Act 89 annual grant of $5 million authorized in 2019, the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton Police Departments are eligible for partial reimbursement by MPOETC after cadets complete the program. MPOETC will reimburse the departments 75% of the tuition and 45% of the hourly wage for the required hours of training for any cadet hired by the department and paid to attend the Lackawanna College Police Academy. “The Scranton Police Department is excited to have six new officers joining the ranks of our department,” Scranton Police Department Chief Leonard Namiotka said. “It was also special that the entire graduating class was sponsored by the respective agencies of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. I am also thrilled that Act 89 will be reimbursing the City 75% of the tuition and 45% of the hourly wage for the required hours of training for the cadets. This will allow that money to be spent on more items such as training and equipment for the department to better serve the community.” Graduates from Class 255 included William Ardoline, Dupont; Adam Bisignani, City of Scranton; James Griffith, City of Scranton.; Carlos Muniz Jr., Wilkes-Barre; Richard Olshefski, Mountain Top; Cameron Rawlings, City of Scranton; Thomas Stornable, City of Scranton; Kevin Sweeney, City of Scranton; William Wilk, Plymouth, and Zachary Zelinski, City of Scranton.
