Following their graduation from the police academy at Harrisburg Area Community College, two new officers have joined the Ferguson Township Police Department.
Lauren Neely and Skyler Ososkie graduated from the academy on Nov. 29 and were sworn in as Ferguson Township officers earlier this month by Magisterial District Judge Kelley Gillette- Walker.
Neely, who serves in the National Guard, is an Altoona native who received a bachelor’s degree in criminology from West Virginia University. She was previously a line officer for the Blair County Probation Office and a deputy in the Blair County Sheriff’s Office.
A native of Bellefonte, Ososkie received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Liberty University and was a security officer at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
They both completed 754 hours of training at the academy between July 5 and their graduation. Both said in a news release that the Ferguson Township Police Department is well-recognized for a commitment to community policing, and skills including empathy, listening and de-escalation were emphasized during their academy training.
“Community policing is not just about enforcing the law,” Ososkie said. “It’s bringing the human side to each interaction.”
“It’s important for people to know they can talk to us like normal people,” Neely said, “and to feel free to come to us for help.”
Ososkie added that it’s important to continue the department’s tradition of having a strong presence in the community.
“We especially want school children to know we’re here to help and we’re their friends,” Ososkie said. “We also need to minimize this great divide between police and the public.”
Neely and Ososkie have begun a field training program, riding with experienced officers to learn policies and procedures. Their training will be completed in about five months.
