The Youth Police Initiative (YPI) Program in the City of Newburgh graduated another class of students on Monday, bringing the tally up to 280 graduates since 2012. The small graduation included eight students from Newburgh Enlarged City School District.

Some took the program as part of their probation and others took the class to move on to the Cadet Academy. Students attend classes everyday for a week, learning about law enforcement. They are provided with dinner during each class and earn an $80 gift card at graduation.

“Our goal is to build relationships with kids in the community,” said Isabel Rojas, Project Manager for the Orange County District Attorney. “They see police as the bad guys, you don’t want to have that perception. You will see that break through as the week goes on, this group was one of the most successful groups I’ve seen in awhile.”

The YPI program works to allow kids and teens in the community to interact with officers and see beyond their uniform and badge. Instructing officers teach the first two classes in regular clothing before entering class in uniform, revealing their true profession halfway through the program.

“At first I didn’t know they were cops,” said Treasure Williams. “I thought they were playing, they didn’t act like police officers, the way they opened up to us. They definitely took me out of my comfort zone.”

Williams is looking to become a correctional officer. She is considering attending the Cadet Program to prepare her for that career path.

On the first day of the class most of the students sat in silence with no interest in participating in the program. When asked by Rojas how many had a bad experience with the police, every student but one raised their hands. At their graduation, the scene was entirely different as students sat comfortably next to officers laughing and telling jokes.

An unlikely pair stood out from the crowd seen side by side smiling. Officer Dan Delicio stood next to a student he arrested earlier in the year. The student was angry and wanted no part of the program, but it gave her the opportunity to confront the officer who arrested her. The two discussed the incident with the rest of the class, and came to understand each other’s perspectives.

The mother of the young girl, even shook hands with Delicio, who she cursed out the day her daughter was arrested.

“That day my emotions were running high, when my daughter was put in that situation my claws came out,” said the mother of the young girl.

The two smiled and discussed what happened that day listening to one another respectfully. They walked away from the conversation with a new understanding of what it’s like to be on the other side.

“This is what this program is about,” said Delicio. “She remembers me as a terrible person, but now she sees me as a human being.”

Students who choose to continue, will participate in the Cadet Program. The Cadet program prepares students to enter the police academy, with training, equipment, and lessons conducted by officers.