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Two police officers with Guyana roots first for Schenectady city

Jan 13, 2018 News

SCHENECTADY, NY (Daily Gazette) — The city on Friday added 14 new police officers — the largest group of recruits to be added in the 21st Century, and one that adds women and the first Guyanese-Americans to the force.
The addition of two officers of Guyanese descent is a first for the city, which has developed a significant Guyanese population over the past two decades.
“I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement,” said Shaquille A. Hemerding, one of the Guyanese-American officers. “I want to challenge myself every day.”
The 23-year-old, who moved here from Brooklyn while in the fourth grade, is a graduate of Niskayuna High School. He has attended Hudson Valley Community College and Schenectady County Community College. He recognises that he will become a role model to other citizens of Guyanese background.
“I want to show everyone, wherever they come from, that they can come forward and can challenge themselves,” Hemerding said after he and the other new officers were sworn in by Mayor Gary McCarthy.
Most of the recruits, none of whom has previous police experience, will attend a regional police academy in Colonie for six months and will then work under supervision before becoming full-fledged officers. It’s a process that takes about a year, overall, said Police Chief Eric Clifford.
“It’s important that the Police Department be reflective of the community, and we’ve done that,” Clifford said. “But first, these are quality candidates.”
The hiring brings the Police Department to its budgeted staffing level of 161 officers, Clifford said. Six will replace officers expected to be assigned to the Schenectady County street crime task force, and eight are filling vacancies.
McCarthy said the hiring shows Schenectady is taking the measures needed to maintain public safety, as the city works to improve its image to attract more residents.
“We’re not going to tolerate people who do not play by the rules,” McCarthy told the recruits, before a large audience of family members and friends. “We’re going to make sure the community is safe.”
Leah R. Howe, 26, is a Schenectady native who attended Schenectady County Community College and worked for the past three years as a corrections officer at the county jail.
“I’m looking forward to having a job where you don’t know what to expect — to challenging myself every day,” Howe said.
“I’ve always wanted to do this, either this or be in the military, have a safer community and be a better person,” said Nicholas Smith, 23, a graduate of Schenectady High School with a University at Albany degree in digital forensics. He has attended Finger Lakes Community College and SCCC.
“I was involved in every step of the selection process, and so was the command staff,” Clifford said. The appointments were actually made by McCarthy. (dailygazette.com)

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