3 Worcester Residents Part of Graduating Class of Sheriff’s Academy

Thursday, September 01, 2016

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Richard Kalldian

Worcester residents officers Richard Kalldian, Officer Anne Millott and Officer Dylan Rainey were part of Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis' newest academy graduates.

Overall, Evangelidis welcomed 11 new correction officers to the Worcester County Sheriff's Office during a graduation ceremony that was held on June 3 at Anna Maria College.

Anne Millott

“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. It is our job to truly be a “House of Correction” and I am proud to welcome all of our new officers who will join us in that mission.” said Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis.

Also during the formal graduation ceremony, among the traditions that were observed was as a badge-pinning, where the new officers were “pinned” into their new profession by a family member.

Dylan Rainey

During his time, Evangelidis has made significant changes to the hiring standards in order to professionalize the department.

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.