Carisma Collins was born and raised in Poughkeepsie. She’s seen her city grow and change over the years.

And now, she wants to have a hand in protecting it. She wants to become a police officer.

"I took criminal justice as an elective my junior year of high school, just as an elective course, and my teacher actually had a state trooper come in class to speak to us," said Collins. "And at that point, I knew I wanted to be a police officer."

At first, it was the prestige of the job that drew her in.

"But then as I thought about it, I thought about being here in the city of Poughkeepsie, being a resident of the city of Poughkeepsie my entire life, having been a part of the careers in law enforcement program after my senior year of high school, it kind of dwelled on me that I wanted to actually help the community," said Collins.

Collins graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in criminal justice in May. She was an intern for the Poughkeepsie Police Department, and went on ride-alongs with officers.

"I know that this police department has a hand in its community, and a positive hand at that," said Collins.

As a woman of color, Collins finds it’s not always easy sharing her dreams with others.

"Most of the time, people are concerned for my safety, I guess just in general, as me being a female, and then there are some people who have iffiness about what I want to do, especially me being an African American woman," said Collins. "Regardless, I kind of take that and I use that as more motivation to do what I want to do, because I know what my intent is behind it, and I know that no one can change that."

Collins is one of nearly 1,400 applicants who applied to take Dutchess County’s police exam this September, a 57% from the last time the exam was offered in 2017. The increase comes after a massive effort by the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office to recruit more diverse applicants for officer positions around the county.

The city of Poughkeepsie police department and the sheriff's office are offering free exam prep for candidates. The sheriff's office is also waiving the $25 exam fee.

"It opens it up a lot more for a lot more candidates to apply," said Collins.

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office says its outreach has led to a 105% increase in the number of African American applicants for the police exam, a 203% increase in Hispanic applicants and a 98% increase in female applicants.

Even after nationwide protests erupted after the police killing of George Floyd last summer, Collins’ goal didn’t change.

"A lot of people think that it would have deterred me from what it is I want to do, but honestly ,it put more of a battery in my back," said Collins. "I always tell people when people ask me why I'm interested in law enforcement, especially as a woman of color, is to at least get our foot in the door … we can't add to the table and contribute to what's being talked about if we’re not actually at the table."