YHS club gives students inside look at local law enforcement

YORKTOWN, N.Y. — On Jan. 30, the Yorktown High School Law Enforcement Club welcomed the FBI, with Supervisory Special Agent John Sullivan addressing a packed classroom of students. During his presentation, he urged the students to make wise decisions and stay out of trouble if they hoped to be considered for future employment with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The presentation is just one example of how the Yorktown Police Department collaborates with the FBI and works to connect with the town’s students. 

Chief of Police Robert Noble said the club started in 2017 as a collaboration between his department and the high school—as an effort to “build positive relationships.” 

It's an opportunity for students to get to know the department, Noble said, so when they see officers at school or around town, they can recognize a familiar face. 

Bella Trippodo, the club’s vice president, joined back in 2021 during her freshman year because she had an interest in learning about the daily responsibilities of police officers and what happens behind the scenes.  

She said she wanted to serve in a leadership role "because it gave me a chance to take initiative and help plan meetings to make them more fun and interesting for students.”  

The club is a space that Trippodo said gives students a unique opportunity to learn about their local police department, the FBI, K-9 Unit and other aspects of law enforcement. The Jan. 30 FBI presentation is just one example.  

“The presentation gave students a better understanding as to what the FBI does and the type of crimes they investigate,” she said, adding that anyone who is remotely interested in going into law enforcement or studying criminal justice, should join the club, or stop by the monthly meetings. 

“We actively listen when appropriate and attempt to improve our communication with students by answering any questions regarding law enforcement that they may have,” Noble said. “We try to learn about them and provide them the opportunity to learn a little about us.”  

Many of the officers at the department were former students at Yorktown or Lakeland High School. For them, this is personal. It’s their home too, which Noble said makes creating these relationships all the more important.  

“It’s just another way that we try to foster trust and create a safer school environment,” Noble added. “We greatly value the partnership with the students, staff and administrators at Yorktown High School.”