Cadets from Lackawanna College Police Academy are expanding their learning beyond the classroom through an innovative collaboration with Scranton Police. This new initiative allows them to gain hands-on experience by accompanying officers on patrol.
Scranton Police Chief Thomas Carroll emphasizes the importance of providing comprehensive training to officers. “If we expect the best of our officers, we must provide the best to them. That means high-quality training, the right tools and continuous opportunities for professional growth,” he stated. He hailed the partnership with Lackawanna College as a commitment to the development and future success of current and aspiring officers.
Chief Carroll, alongside Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and Kevin Mahoney, the director of police academy operations at Lackawanna College, announced this collaboration at the Scranton Police Department, surrounded by six cadets. Through this agreement, cadets from Lackawanna’s Scranton and Hazleton campuses will have access to the city’s advanced training technology, though they are not committed to serving in Scranton post-graduation.
For nearly half a century, Lackawanna College’s Police Academy has trained over a thousand officers, many of whom serve in Scranton. The new program complements the existing Pennsylvania municipal police officers training curriculum, known as Act 120.
Additionally, Lackawanna College will offer four full scholarships annually to members of the Scranton Police Department. This initiative extends to most undergraduate associate and bachelor level degrees, with tuition discounts available for all department employees and their dependents.
“When we invest in officers and officer training, we are making a long-term investment in safer neighborhoods, a safer city and a safer work environment for our officers,” Mayor Cognetti remarked. The collaboration is set to commence this fall.
Experience before graduation
The program, developed jointly by Mahoney and Carroll, leverages Scranton’s $5 million investment in police technology. This includes the MILO system, an interactive simulation platform providing realistic training scenarios.
Cadets will also gain exposure to drone and forensic technology, enhancing their readiness for real-life law enforcement challenges. Mahoney, who retired as a state police lieutenant in 2021 to join the academy, aims to integrate more technology into training. “It’s a lot different from what you read in the book to when you face a situation in real life,” he said.
Mahoney believes that such exposure gives cadets a significant advantage. “The more experience they have in those type of scenarios, is absolutely going to be give them a leg up when they get out there,” he noted.
According to Mayor Cognetti, Scranton’s approach is setting a national benchmark for modern policing. “This partnership with Lackawanna College helps us bring up the next generation of officers,” she explained.
