WALLKILL, N.Y. -- On the SUNY Orange campuses, faculty members are respected as experts in their respective disciplines, but that reverence often extends into the community at large when local organizations and groups ask SUNY Orange professors to contribute their vast knowledge and informed opinions to presentations, panels and discussions.

One such instance occurred earlier in October when the Town of Wallkill Police Community Council welcomed Criminal Justice Professor Timothy Zeszutek (second from left in photo) to a public panel to discuss the criminal justice system. Zeszutek joined panelists Orange County District Attorney David Hovler and Annette Kahrs of the Tri-County Community Partnership.

The Police Community Council initially contacted Dennis O’Loughlin, chair of SUNY Orange’s Criminal Justice Department, to arrange a representative from the College and Zeszutek agreed to participate.

Zeszutek leaned on his 12 years’ worth of experience as a professor, along with his more than 20 years as a member of the New York State Police, to share observations on the issues facing police departments today, the many stresses officers face in the line of duty, and how he helps students understand and prepare for a career in criminal justice.

“Our department is honored in knowing that SUNY Orange has placed many alumni in a variety of police, courts, and correctional positions across the country. Creating a diverse police force is imperative in the 21st Century.  This can sometimes complicate recruitment efforts,” Zeszutek says. “But I remind students that there is no better time to seek a career in the criminal justice field. They can be part of the change to focus on police-community initiatives that will better serve our diverse citizen populations now and in the future.”

At SUNY Orange students interact with faculty who have extensive experience in the criminal justice and legal systems. The College offers two degree options for students interested in criminal justice: the Criminal Justice associate in science (A.S.) degree prepares graduates for transfer to a variety of four-year schools all throughout the Northeast, while the Criminal Justice: Police degree is an associate in applied science (A.A.S.) that provides the foundation for graduates to immediately enter the workforce in any number of related areas. Graduates of the A.A.S. program can also transfer to a four-year college or university if they desire.

Additionally the department offers a certificate program in Law Enforcement/Security that is designed for students who are interested in a career in law enforcement or private security and who do not wish to pursue an associate’s degree.

For more information, visit www.sunyorange.edu/cj.