Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis pictured with the new graduates of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Basic Recruit Training Academy #46 including Officers Ted Biba, Michael Buxton, Steven Guercio, Shane Keddy, Alec Mastrototaro, James Ownes & Edward Tortora of Worcester. The graduating class was the largest in the history of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis announced the graduation of the largest academy class in the history of the Sheriff’s Department.
The graduation ceremony at Anna Maria College welcomed 30 new correction officers to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. The group which included five military servicemen were the eleventh class to graduate under Sheriff Evangelidis’ increased hiring standards which he introduced shortly after taking office.
“As we continue to build a strong department dedicated to serving our community, our new officers have met the highest hiring standards in corrections today and have completed the finest training academy in Massachusetts. With almost 90% of our inmate population incarcerated due to addiction issues, the field of corrections can be a very challenging one. Our primary responsibility is to serve and protect the citizens of Worcester County and to do that effectively we must work daily with these individuals so they are less likely to reoffend upon their release. I am proud to welcome the largest graduating class in the history of our department, comprised of thirty of new correctional officers who will now join us in that mission.” said Evangelidis.
Officers Ted Biba, Michael Buxton, Shane Keddy, Alec Mastrototaro, James Owens, Edward Tortora and Steven Guercio, who was also the recipient of the Francis T. Foley Award given to the recruit who achieves the highest class average, were part of the 46th Graduating class of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Basic Recruit Training Academy.
The Graduation Process
All correctional officer applicants must have, at minimum, an associates degree or at least two years of military service.
They must also take and pass a written exam, physical fitness test, background check and psychological screening test.
United States military applicants are given priority status in the hiring process.
