By Kerry Gallagher
For as long as he can remember, Robert Stapleton (CJPO ‘05) wanted to be a police officer.
“As a young child, my father was a Binghamton police officer, and I always looked up to him,” Stapleton said. “He had great stories that he always used to tell us, and I knew that was the career I wanted to get into.”
After graduating from Windsor High School, the lifelong Broome County native stayed true to his roots, enrolling in the Criminal Justice program at then-Broome Community College to prepare for a career in policing.
“I loved my education here. All my professors had in-depth knowledge of the career field, and a ton of experience,” Stapleton said. “They’re all easygoing, but very knowledgeable, and they could relate to the career that I was trying to get into.”
Since graduating from the community’s college 20 years ago, Stapleton has become the community’s cop, working as a deputy at the Broome County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), just a stone’s throw from his former campus. His duties gradually evolved above and beyond those of the typical patrol officer, earning him bona fide ‘hometown hero’ status as a passionate proponent for community policing and public safety – especially, the safety of children. Stapleton served as a School Resource Officer, led the Community Policing Division, and spearheaded local efforts to crack down on drivers illegally passing school buses through Operation Safe Stop. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2023, and now supervises a road patrol shift and coordinates the BCSO’s STOP-DWI program.
“It’s nice to do police work and patrol where I grew up, and where I currently live now,” Stapleton said. “It makes it more convenient to live where you work; to know the people, know the land, know the roadways.”
It remains to be seen whether his own children will carry on the Stapleton law enforcement legacy, but the father-of-three hopes they’ll follow in his footsteps when it comes to college decisions.
“I encourage everyone to earn an associate degree, at minimum. It gives you the base foundation of higher education, and sets you up for the future,” Stapleton shared. “And I highly recommend a community college, especially SUNY Broome. It’s close, it’s convenient, it’s cost-effective.”
Seeking a career in emergency services? Apply now and get started on your Criminal Justice A.A.S. at SUNY Broome this spring!
Submitted by: MarCom
Tags: Criminal Justice AAS
