Westchester Correction Department Swears In New Officers

VALHALLA, NY — Sixteen new correction officers — and others — were sworn in last month by the Westchester County Department of Correction.

The formal graduation and promotional ceremony was for 16 new correction officers, seven sergeants and two captains.

Also joining the graduation class was a Yonkers detention officer who participated in the 12-week correction officer academy training period.

County Executive George Latimer said that one of the most important functions of county government is the safe running of a correction facility.

“The individuals remanded into the custody of [the correction department] have arrived there for many reasons and will look to our new correction officers and supervisors as role models and mentors,” he said, “a class of role models and mentors which continues WCDOC’s commitment to diversity.”

Correction Commissioner Joseph Spano, in a speech to the new graduates, said being a correction officer is one of the most challenging jobs in law enforcement.

“I know from firsthand experience that the job of a correction officer is not easy,” he said, “and it will take time to adjust to a fast moving a complex environment.”

Spano said that correction officers have one of the most important roles in criminal justice, because they have a significant role in the rehabilitation process.

The following are the graduates, as provided by Westchester County:

Correction officers

• Brett Aleschin
• Christina Anglin-Roberts
• Ivan Antigua
• Damian Blyden
• Rameek Boyd
• Todd Bryant-Harper
• Joseline Criollo-Leta
• Shane Gibbs
• Danelly Henriquez
• Cory Hill
• Kurtz Howell
• Michael Miller
• Dianne Phillip
• Michael Saldana
• Francis Sofsky
• Techa Taylor

Captains

• Adrian Allen
• Kendall Middleton

Sergeants

• Dwight Allen
• Jason Birkenstock
• Malik Cozier
• Robert Cucino
• Erick Ferrell
• Eileen Sacharewitz
• Salvador Torres

Yonkers detention

• Steven Jose