As announced at a special press conference on March 31st, the capital region's Zone 5 Police Academy has selected Schenectady's IUE Hall as its new home. With special assistance from Senator Hugh Farley and the Metroplex Board, Zone 5 will own and renovate the building to meet its training and administrative needs. SCCC will utilize some of the training space for our EMS courses. When needed, Zone 5 will utilize SCCC's community conference space in the Stockade Building.

Zone 5 is a collaborative effort between all of the police departments within a 9 county area to provide pre-service and in-service training to the new recruits and seasoned officers within its membership. Each year more than 1200 police officers and recruits come to the training center for a variety of program. With a new and larger facility than their Troy facility, Zone 5 anticipates up to 2000 police through their doors for training on an annual basis by 2005.

Continuing Education is proud to have played a role with the Department of Business and Law in bringing Zone 5 to Schenectady. Through his advisory committee, Business and Law Chairman Dr. Hennessy learned of Zone 5's need to relocate its training programs from Troy. With permission from President Basil, in mid-December Continuing Education Dean Ed Baker and Dr. Hennessy facilitated a meeting of the Zone 5 Executive Board with Metroplex head Ray Gillen, Schenectady Chamber of Commerce President Chuck Steiner, and local businessman Gordon Furlaini to discuss the development of a community response to Zone 5's need for a new training facility. Dr. Hennessy worked with Mr. Gillen and President Basil to develop an appropriate College role in the proposal. Then, on March 11th, Dean Baker represented the College at the formal presentation of the community proposal to the entire Zone 5 Board, who had received other proposals from Troy and Mechanicville. Other presentors included Ray Gillen, Mayor Stratton, Chuck Steiner, and Susan Savage. The decision by the Zone 5 Board to relocate to Schenectady was received within a few days.

The Department of Business and Law and the Division of Continuing Education see many opportunities to collaborate with Zone 5 on special grants and training programs. Utilization of Zone 5 space for EMS training will reduce the stress on our campus for evening classroom space. At the same time, it will bring police, firefighters, and emergency medical staff together in a single location for educational purposes.

The Continuing Education Division is pleased to have played a key role in bringing Zone 5 to Schenectady. This is a win for Schenectady City, Schenectady County, and SCCC. And special congratulations are due to Dr. Hennessy for his hard work in this effort.