After completing a rigorous 10-week academy, 45 new correction officers took their oaths of office today and embarked on careers at the Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC).
County Executive George Latimer said: “One of the unseen yet most important functions of County government is the safe running of a correctional facility. 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. As Deputy Commissioner in charge of the training academy he said: “Today we celebrate the successful graduation of our second 2021 correction officer academy class without any exposure to the virus. 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.
Spano stated: “Correction officers have one of the most important roles in criminal justice. 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”
Commissioner 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, Captain Patti Bhola 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. As part of a shared service arrangement, two Yonkers detention officers completed the 10 week training academy and for the first time, two New York 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. Those graduating today are:
Correction Officers
Alberto Acuna Jr.
Daniel Ahne
Lamoy Banton
Jade Beckford
Eleanor Birrittella
Lawrence Chiulli
Alexis Cloud
Edmond Coleman Jr
Christopher Connolly
Ryan Cox
Melissa Crespo
Edwin Cuevas
Peter Cumberbatch
Jonathan De Meo
Kyle Decuffa
Jonathan Delfa
Daniel Devlin
Paul Dilemme
Rahshad Dowling
Juan Evangelista
Oscar Figueroa
Wilfredo Gonzague Jr.
Camile James Betty
Christopher Jeffery
Dean Lebrini
Keith Mattos
Lucky Mcfadden
John Mcguinness
Frank Medina
Richard Melo
Kelvin Mendez
Nicholas Nappi
Juan Orozco
Carmine Pizzano
Yesenia Quinones
Michael Ramistella
Anthony Repetti
Britley Seymour
Christopher Shleiwet
Angel Sime
Laraya Taileur
Jarrel Thomas
Mark Thomas Jr
Argenis Tiburcio
Rochelle Washington
Yonkers Detention
Anthony Arce
Priscilla Persaud