WCSO Staff
December 7, 2023
Sheriff Evangelidis Swears in 26 Individuals as Academy-Trained Correctional Officers
[Paxton, MA] – On Friday, December 1st, 2023, Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis proudly administered the Correctional Officers Oath to the 26 graduating recruits of the Sheriff’s Office’s 60th Basic Recruit Training Academy (B.R.T.A.) in Zecco Auditorium at Anna Maria College.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring the public safety of the cities and towns in Worcester County. The department recognizes the importance of having a team that is representative of the community it serves. The graduates of B.R.T.A. #60 are a highly qualified and diverse group of recruits, each bringing unique skills and experiences to their new roles as correctional officers. These officers hail from sixteen different towns across Massachusetts, and many of them are veterans or reservists. B.R.T.A. #60 is the largest graduating class the department has had since 2017.
The Sheriff’s Office Academy is a paid full-time 12-week program that teaches recruits how to handle and maintain the care, custody, and control of inmates at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. The program includes both classroom and hands-on instruction, covering important topics such as de-escalation, duty to intervene, fire safety, defensive tactics, first responder training, suicide prevention, mental health, and substance abuse. In the classroom, recruits learn about these topics, while hands-on training includes physical fitness, CPR/first responder, firearms, skid school, and many other scenario-based exercises.
“The recruits of the B.R.T.A. #60 have just completed 12 weeks of rigorous training and will now join the ranks of our full-time staff behind the walls of the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction,” commented Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. “This class has demonstrated great strength and resiliency as they have navigated the academy. They represent the upcoming generation of correctional officers who will undoubtedly carry forward our mission to serve, protect, and foster a better and safer community for all.”
Since taking office, Evangelidis has implemented several changes to enhance the professionalism and integrity of the department hiring process. The new standards for correctional officer applications include a minimum of an associate degree, two years of military service, or two years of relevant work experience. Additionally, applicants must pass a written exam, physical fitness test, background check, and psychological screening test. To ensure fairness and impartiality, Evangelidis has also implemented a policy that prohibits the submission of letters of recommendation from politicians and gives preference to hiring those who have served our country.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for its 61st Basic Recruit Training Academy, which will begin in March 2024. To learn more about what it takes to be a correctional officer, please visit www.WorcesterCountySheriff.com/Careers.
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The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office B.R.T.A. #60 poses with Sheriff Evangelidis and Training Staff after graduation.
