After completing a rigorous 10-week academy, 45 new correction officers took their oaths of office on Dec. 16 and embarked on careers at the Westchester
County Department of Correction, WCDOC.
“One of the unseen yet most important functions of County government is the safe running of a correctional facility,” said County Executive George Latimer.
“The individuals in your custody have arrived there for many reasons and will look to you as mentors and role models. A full commitment to your new profession will benefit the men and women under your care and support their rehabilitation process. Rest assured that my administration will continue to
provide resources to support the advancement of our Corrections Department, its workforce and those remanded into their care and custody.”
The ceremony began with a call to order, opening prayer and a presentation of the colors by the Department’s Honor Guard, who entered the Westchester
Community College Hankin Academic Arts Center accompanied by bagpipers and drummers of the Westchester County Emerald Society.
Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerald welcomed attending dignitaries and graduating class family members.“Today we celebrate the successful graduation
of our second 2021 correction officer academy class without any exposure to the virus,” he said. “Thank you to the academy staff, instructors and recruits for
your diligence and careful adherence to universal protocols set by the CDC, Westchester County and this Department.”
In addressing the recruits, Correction Commissioner Joseph K. Spano reinforced that the new career they have chosen is one of the most challenging—but also
most rewarding—in all of law enforcement. “Correction officers have one of the most important roles in criminal justice,” Spano said. “The extensive training you received over the last 10 weeks coupled with the ongoing support that our agency will provide has positioned you for successful careers. In turn, we expect that each of you will adhere to the Department’s core mission: maintaining a safe and humane environment, recovery, rehabilitation and our culture of civility and respect. We do not judge individuals remanded into our custody, we assess, we treat and leverage programs and services to help them get on a better life path”
Spano further noted that the Westchester Department of Correction is considered a national leader in the space, recognized for its robust rehabilitation program system and accreditation certifications through the American Correctional Association, the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare and the Prison Rape Elimination Act.
At the ceremony, Capt. Patti Bhola of the Department’s Training Academy, detailed the unique training that the recruits received during the last 10 weeks, including newly-developed curriculum related to implicit bias and secondary trauma. Recruits also received training in effective communication, de-escalation of incidents, defensive tactics, crisis intervention and interaction with seriously mentally ill people. As part of a shared service arrangement, two Yonkers detention officers completed the 10-week training academy and for the first time, two state Commission of Correction field representatives participated in certain portions of the training.
Prior to the close of the ceremony, awards were presented to members of the class who distinguished themselves during the academy, including the best student, the best conditioned recruit and for leadership.
(Submitted)
