WORCESTER—For 16 newly minted correctional officers in Worcester County — including six from the city of Worcester — Friday marked the culmination of 13 weeks of demanding training and the start of a new chapter in public service.
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis administered the Correctional Officers Oath to the graduates of the Sheriff’s Office’s 63rd Basic Recruit Training Academy (B.R.T.A.) during a ceremony held at the department’s Training and Command Center in West Boylston.
Among the graduates were Worcester residents Zachary Grummell, Abdiel Herrera, Adrian Kurpiewski, Kamil Kurpiewski, Brian Nyako, Jacob Oh, and Emmy Uzayisenga. The diverse class of recruits hails from nine different Massachusetts communities and includes six individuals who are either active members or veterans of the U.S. Army, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.
The B.R.T.A. program offers a paid, full-time, 13-week curriculum designed to prepare recruits to manage the care, custody, and control of inmates at the Worcester County Jail & House of Correction. The academy combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in areas such as de-escalation techniques, defensive tactics, first responder protocols, suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and substance abuse education.
Recruits also undergo daily physical fitness training, weekly academic assessments, and participate in guest lectures and demonstrations from public safety partners.
“After 13 rigorous weeks of training, I present the best and brightest in corrections today,” Sheriff Evangelidis said in the release. “The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Training Department is one of the best in the state, and I can confidently say that these individuals are ready to join the ranks as full-time corrections officers and contribute to successfully executing our mission.”
Before entering the academy, applicants must complete a written exam, physical fitness test, background check, and psychological screening. To promote fairness, the Sheriff’s Office prohibits letters of recommendation from politicians and gives hiring preference to veterans.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its 64th Basic Recruit Training Academy, which is set to begin in September 2025. More information about the program and application process can be found at www.WorcesterCountySheriff.com/Careers/Correctional-Officer-Academy.
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