Steve Price, who previously served as a school resource officer (SRO) for Dutchess BOCES during the 2023-2024 school year, is returning, albeit in a different role.
The police officer of 25 years will teach security and law at the Career & Technical Institute replacing Frank Kolarik, who retired at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Price is thrilled to return to BOCES because he enjoyed working with its staff and students and he meets his goal of becoming a teacher. “I’ve always wanted to work with kids,” Price said. “Even when I was a cop, I taught in the police academy and I taught trainings.”
The time he spent as a corrections officer gave Price the experience necessary to be a patrol officer with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. Once it started its SRO program, Price worked at Pawling’s high and middle schools, before coming to BOCES where he immediately felt at home.
“It was such a different environment, but it was also a very welcoming and supportive environment,” Price recalled. “I’ve been exposed to so many different areas of law enforcement.”
Price’s goals are to give students as much knowledge and information as possible so they are prepared when they start a career in law enforcement, corrections, security or the military in an environment similar to a law enforcement academy. Much has changed in law enforcement in the last five years and Price is well equipped to teach students as he brings a fresh perspective, having only recently retired from law enforcement. One aspect he wants to instill in students is that police officers should be someone kids can go to, not be afraid of. “You adapt and you change with the career and I’m really looking forward to introducing them to that,” Price said. “They’re going to have a little bit of a leg up … I want them to go to a law enforcement academy and sit there and say, ‘I remember my teacher talking about this.’”
Price enjoys camping with his family, exercising, coaching wrestling and watching football when he is not working. “I’m a Jets fan, I have a lot of heartache with that,” Price said with a laugh. “Football is my favorite sport.”