Common Ground Page 10 - Suffolk County Sheriff's Department

Page 2
Common Ground
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department Graduates 25 New Officers
Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral administered the Correction Officer’s Oath to twenty–five new officers
during a graduation ceremony held recently at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel in South Boston.
Brought online to serve at the Suffolk County House of Correction, the former recruits completed an intensive
twelve–week training academy that required instruction in a host of practical and classroom subjects that included:
suicide prevention, ethics and professionalism, use of force continuum, firearm safety and handling, inmate
education and programming, contraband control, courtroom testimony, CORI and inmate rights and responsibilities,
fire safety, CPR, sexual harassment, cross–gender supervision and report writing.
Correction Officer Training Academy (COTA) Class 11–01 is the 17th to graduate under the leadership of Sheriff
Cabral, who addressed the members of the class as they sat among family, friends and their new colleagues.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the friends, the family, and the loved
ones that supported the graduates,” said Sheriff Cabral. “I can’t emphasize
enough to you how much your support means to them and the significant
role that your continued support of them will play in their success as
correction officers.”
“The business of corrections at the county level has changed significantly
over the nine years that I have been Sheriff,” she continued. “We
have learned to be more engaged and more focused on how we handle
the lives of those living in our charge, because how we do that job has a
direct impact on whether they will re–offend, and has a direct impact on
the public safety and the quality of life of people who live in the communities
we serve.”
Members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s
Department COTA Class 11-01
During the training process, Deputy Superintendent and Supervisor of Training for the Department Yolanda
Smith helped to shape and mold COTA Class 11–01 into a successful unit by stressing teamwork, honesty and
dedication. Standing before the new officers during the ceremony, she provided the graduates with a challenge to
strive for still greater heights as members of the Department.
“As a team, you have done remarkable work and have impressed the training staff with your progress and
growth,” said Deputy Superintendent Smith. “Find your own passion and build on it because as you’ve heard
from many people, corrections is not a job – it’s a career that has so many opportunities.”
Members of the COTA Class 11–01 are: James Bacigalupo, Fred Bernabe, Patrick Casey, Neil Connaughton,
Dennis Cunniff, Stephen Hazelton, Christopher Jones, Colette Josey, David Kew, Mark Mastrullo, Michael Mc-
Manus, Brendan McNeil, Matthew Moran–Lanier, Donald Philippe, Patrick Rogers, Daniel Rossetti, Alena Sullivan,
David Vasquez, Jackson Vetiac, Christopher Warren, Matthew Wilkins, Elliott Williams, Paul Zaniboni, and
Joshua Ziegra. Officers receiving special recognition were: Patrick Casey – Academic Excellence Award, David
Kew – Top Gun Award, Michael McManus – Drill Instructors Award, Alena Sullivan – Unit Citation Award, and
Christopher Warren – Physical Training Award.
SCSD’s Common Ground Cable Show
Watch the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department public affairs program “Common Ground” on
Boston Neighborhood Network’s cable Channel 9 Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Fridays
from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Common Ground also airs on
Chelsea Community Cable TV Channels 3 & 16 on Mondays at 3 p.m., Winthrop Community Cable’s
Channel 3 on Mondays from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Revere
Community Cable Channel 8 on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.