June 14, 2019 - After completing a rigorous 10-week academy, 37 new correction officers took their oaths of office today and embarked on careers at the Westchester County Department of Correction.
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 County Center accompanied by bagpipers and drummers of the Westchester County Emerald Society.
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. Commissioner Spano stated “Correction officers play one of the most important roles in criminal justice. Over the last ten weeks, we have provided you with many of the tools you will need to have successful careers. In turn, we expect that each of you will adhere to the Department’s core mission: recovery, rehabilitation and the safe return of those we serve to their home communities.” Commissioner Spano further noted that based upon the Department of Correction’s 30-plus programs, hundreds of partnerships and the steadfast dedication of its staff, it remains the only correctional agency in New York that is nationally accredited by three different oversight agencies.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer then delivered keynote remarks, in which he highlighted the unique life experiences that the officers and new sergeants will rely on every day. County Executive Latimer stated, “One of the unseen yet most important functions of County government is the safe running of a correctional facility. In this county, we believe that there are no ‘throwaway people.’ The individuals in your custody have arrived there for many reasons and will look to you as mentors and role models. Rest assured that my administration will have your backs as you begin this new journey.”
Following the County Executive’s remarks, Captain Wanda Smithson of the Department’s Training Academy detailed the unique training that the recruits received during the last ten 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.
2019 marks the Department of Correction’s fiftieth year as a criminal justice agency, formed in 1969 from what were then functions of the County Sheriff and the Department of Public Welfare. In merging these functions, Westchester County sought to extend the rehabilitative initiatives afforded to its sentenced offenders to pre-trial detainees, and to create a unified workforce of similarly-credentialed officers.
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. Those joining the Department and being promoted today are:
Correction Officers:
Algbedo, Omosefe
Arellano, Armando
Arroyo, Miguel
Baez, Kristopher
Bellamy, Damien
Boddie, Ryan
Boro, Arne
Brodie, Shyann
Brooke, Christopher
Brooks, Jasmine
Campbell, Nicholas
Castilho-Vigato, Otavio
Chanchee, Steven
Criollo, Jorge
Dennard, Preston
Farrell, Mackenzie
Foster, Kimesha
Gamboa, Jose
Getter, Zhane
Green, Michael
Huggins, Ishemela
Jimenez, Jasmin
Jones, Marvin
Lynk, Judan
O’Shea, Christopher
Pfeiffer, Kevin
Poulson, Kirk
Reilly, Tyler
Roche, Patrick
Rodriguez, Modesto
Sandoval, Antonio
Seraphin, Daniel
Stewart, Matthew
Thomas, Dexter
White, Shawn
Whiting, Thomas
Yeagley, David
Promoted to Sergeant:
Herman Dawson
Jeffry Deigan
Larry Vazquez, Jr.