WARWICK, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated the first graduating class of its new Fit2Serve: Pathway to Policing program during a ceremony on Monday, July 13, at the Warwick Campus. Fifteen students successfully completed the intensive eight-week law enforcement academy preparation program, which is designed to equip Rhode Islanders with the physical and mental foundation required for modern law enforcement careers.

Developed in partnership with Fit2Serve and supported by a $125,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, the program addresses growing recruitment challenges facing police departments across the state. The inaugural cohort — selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants — completed 92 hours of multi-day training focused on physical conditioning, defensive tactics, swim readiness, firearms safety, and board examination preparation.

The 15 graduates of the inaugural Fit2Serve: Pathway to Policing program are:

• Zoe Adames – Providence
• Dylan Auslander – Coventry
• Dylan Brol – Bristol
• Yenisha De Jesus – Woonsocket
• Nataniel Dinis – Providence
• Olivia Ferrazza – Rockville
• Nelson Lozada – Providence
• Emily Marino – Cranston
• Aidan McGarry – Johnston
• Tanya Moran – Central Falls
• Gabriella Sams – Middletown
• Anthony Sevigny – Johnston
• Dekhi Touray – Woonsocket
• Paige Woodbury – Coventry
• Juliana Wright – Pawtucket

Several members of the inaugural cohort have already secured positions that will place them in the upcoming August and January Municipal Police Academies and the November Rhode Island Division of Sheriffs’ Academy. Other graduates continue to progress through the hiring process with law enforcement agencies throughout Rhode Island.

"At CCRI, we are committed to creating pathways that prepare Rhode Islanders for meaningful, in-demand careers while strengthening the communities we serve," said CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN."The graduates of our inaugural Fit2Serve: Pathway to Policing program have demonstrated the discipline, resilience, and commitment required of today's law enforcement professionals. We are proud to partner with Fit2Serve, the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, and the Rhode Island Foundation to expand opportunities for individuals who are called to serve."

"Fit2Serve was honored to partner with the Rhode Island Chiefs Association and CCRI to implement the first Pathway to Policing Program," said Kevin Barry, Fit2Serve founder and CEO. "Congratulations to the 15 students who participated and completed the intensive, eight-week program. They are now trained in the essential areas that will prepare them for future success in the police academy. Special thanks to the unwavering support of the Rhode Island Foundation; without their generosity, the program would not have happened. "

"Fit2Serve has been an outstanding partner to the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association," said Sidney Wordell, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. "They have made a real difference for policing in Rhode Island by preparing future officers for the physical demands of the police academy. Adding CCRI to this partnership — and with the generous support of the Rhode Island Foundation — has made an already-successful program even stronger. Together, they have created a pathway that opens doors for people who want to build a meaningful career serving others."

“Investing in initiatives that create meaningful career pathways promotes the type of economic mobility that can change the lives of the graduates and their families forever. Beyond that, Fit2Serv creates a pipeline of qualified candidates who are especially attuned to the communities they will serve,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “This collaboration with CCRI will open doors for hard-working Rhode Islanders.”

For more information about Fit2Serve: Pathway to Policing, visit the CCRI Fit2Serve Program Page.