For Angela Marriott ’17, it was a career-defining moment.
In the summer of 2015, she observed the daily work of police officers during a ride-along in her hometown of Peekskill, New York. Seeing firsthand how a female officer deftly handled the challenges of the job cemented her desire to pursue a career in law enforcement.
“The way she was connected and interacted with people and carried herself as a woman in law enforcement is who I aspired to be,” Marriott said.
Marriott’s dream became a reality in 2018, when she graduated from SUNY Morrisville’s with a Bachelor of Technology degree in criminal justice and was sworn in as a New York City Police Department officer. The department is one of the largest police forces in the world with more than 30,000 officers, 20% of which are females.
“The first day of the academy felt surreal, just knowing I was being sworn into and beginning my career with the largest and greatest police department in the world,” said Marriott, who is assigned to a precinct in the Northern section of the Bronx.
“I always wanted to be a cop because I wanted to do something different every day. I wanted something rewarding and physically demanding.”
The 24-year-old Marriott graduated in the top10% of her class and also won the academy’s female fitness award during training.
“Every day putting on this uniform is a reward, to help serve and protect the people of New York City,” she said.
Marriott credits her SUNY Morrisville education and the guidance from Peakskill Police Department Sgt. Khalia Carter for helping her answer the call to service.
“She motivated me to follow in her footsteps,” Marriott said of her mentor, who took her on that memorable ride-along. “I aspire to have a career like hers and to make an impact on the community just as she has.”
There were others who helped to pave the way.
Every day putting on this uniform is a reward, to help serve and protect the people of New York City.
“Professor Clare Armstrong Seward helped me through so much as a dual student-athlete and managing my academics,” Marriott said. “I use what she taught me every single day as a New York City police officer.”
“It was no surprise that she became an NYPD officer because she set that goal and made it happen,” Armstrong Seward said. “I am confident that she will either go up the ranks or find another useful and important way to use the skills she has developed over time.”
Marriott demonstrated her capacity as a leader and team member when she captained and starred on both the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams at Morrisville. A 2015 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Third Team selection at goalkeeper and a Scholar-Athlete selection for soccer and women’s lacrosse, she also competed for the Mustangs in lacrosse at midfield where she was a third team All-Conference selection.
“Angela realizes that leading by example is often the most powerful tool in life,” Seward said.
Marriott has made it a priority to contribute to society when she’s off the clock as well. When her schedule permits, she is a goalkeeper with the New York City Police Department women’s soccer team. The team participates in humanitarian mission trips to impoverished countries, where they compete against the NYPD men’s soccer team, hold youth clinics and donate new and used soccer equipment and school supplies to children.
“It is important to help communities like these see what law enforcement represents,” Marriott said. “Helping people in need, giving what we can to make people’s lives easier is important to me.”
When she has free time, Marriott and her partner often go to the schools in the area to connect with youth and answer questions they have about police officers.
“The patch on our sleeve represents so much,” Marriott said. “Helping the community and restoring trust within society is a major role of being a police officer.”
