CANTON -- The St. Lawrence County-David Sullivan Law Enforcement Academy begins its 23rd session with an emphasis on de-escalation tactics, according to a news release.

More than a dozen future law enforcement professionals began their training on Jan. 8, representing agencies from across the North Country.

Academy Director Joseph Brown in the statement said this year's class will learn new ways to defuse potentially dangerous situations without the use of force. He is a SUNY Canton alumnus and a retired Massena Police Department investigator,

"Our cadets study of police responses," Brown said in the release. "In cases that end in violence, we evaluate the situation to see what could be done to de-escalate the situation verbally to bring a mutually successful end to the encounter."

The academy also includes “an emphasis on community police practices, including fair and impartial policing.”

Brown in the release said communication “is key in any dealings with the public. The cadets are trained in a variety of ways to successfully bring a situation a situation of potential conflict to a positive resolution.”

"Body language, attention and empathy are all crucial," he said.

New courses implemented by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services include professional communications, procedural justice and decision-making. These courses further support the academy's current focus.

Cadets are also trained in opioid intervention and the administration of the life-saving drug Naloxone, sometimes marketed as Narcan, during the first-responder section of the academy.

"We equip our cadets with an advanced skillset they will need for their careers," SUNY Canton University Police Chief Alan P. Mulkin said in the press release. "The majority of our courses are taught by active law enforcement officers. The men and women enrolled in our academy learn from the professionals they will be serving with when they graduate."

SUNY Canton's Law Enforcement Academy Training is offered in two phases. Phase one offers pre-employment training and encompasses the majority of skills necessary to become a police officer. Cadets are then eligible to complete phase two upon becoming a sworn police officer. Phase two includes, firearms, and counter terrorism training, advanced police arrest techniques, among other topics.