As a young boy, Wandel Rosso dreamed of becoming a police officer. But first, the BRHS graduate had to get through school and eventually the police academy.

Wandel, now officer Rosso, works as an NYPD police officer. “I wasn’t sure I would be able to reach it,’’ he said.

Officer Rosso said he had wanted to be a police officer since he was little because he had a family affiliation with the police force. But, he had a few obstacles. He did not believe in himself. ¨People told me I wouldn’t be able to be a police officer because of my bad grades,’’ he said. “I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it.”

Teen-age Rosso often hung around the halls with the wrong crowd. His grades didn’t matter much to him until senior year when he became more serious about his future.

Rosso did some programs after graduating that helped him in his journey. ¨He did five online classes at Monroe College and majored in criminal justice.

“There was nothing fun,’’ he said. “ It’s not easy and it’s stressful.”

He said the most challenging part of becoming a police officer was doing the police academy program for six months. On certain days they had different training sessions. Either swimming practice, shooting range, driving the police car, or doing general academic performances like writing essays. Rosso says that it was difficult because he didn’t know what task he had each day and the time was short.

Rosso graduated in July 2024 officially as an NYPD officer. His day-to-day duties involve patrolling schools and malls, driving the police car and surveilling in the police car. You can find him near Westchester Square on some occasions.

Officer Rosso is proud of himself and his journey. “I’m very proud and my family’s proud. ¨I made it.”

He sends all students at BRHS a message. “If you have a goal, put your mind to it, and don’t let anyone influence you.”