POTSDAM — The SUNY Potsdam Law Enforcement Training Institute recently received a donated vehicle to use in the police academy's training programs from a local dealership.

The team from Ellis Chevrolet Buick GMC in Malone, handed over the keys to a donated Dodge Avenger recently to Law Enforcement Training Institute Director Sonny Duquette.

The vehicle will be a huge boost for the New York State-accredited police academy, Duquette said.

"With funding for law enforcement training being extremely low, academy directors around the state have been reaching out to their local communities in hopes of gaining any assistance, especially with big ticket items, such as vehicles. We were in dire need. Vehicles are needed for multiple training modules throughout a police academy, such as emergency vehicle operations, professional traffic stops, vehicle extractions, high risk stops and reality based training, to name just a few," he said.

As a New York State-accredited policy academy, SUNY Potsdam's Law Enforcement Training Institute offers instruction in defensive tactics, emergency medical services, emergency vehicle operation, applying field sobriety tests, processing crime scenes and a plethora of other training topics. The Institute offers both Phase 1 and Phase 2 instruction for either pre-employment cadets or hired officers/cadets.

"Seeing as how we train local agencies such as the Malone, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, SUNY Potsdam and Potsdam police departments, I reached out to almost every dealership in Franklin and St. Lawrence counties looking for a donation to help us if possible. Jason Ellis was the only one who offered to help. I was really hurting for a vehicle, and full disclosure, I was really hoping that the fact Rick Ellis was a retired trooper would come in to play for us. Thankfully, it did!" Duquette said. "I am very happy they stepped up for us. Law enforcement needs training, and we all know it. To get there, funding and community involvement is key. It must be a team effort, in every regard. I tip my hat to Rick and Jason Ellis, as well as Randy Wood. Whenever the community and its law enforcement work together, it's a feel-good moment. And we all want and need more of those."

To learn more, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/appliedlearning/law-enforcement-training-institute.