The Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy celebrated the graduation of 17 new correctional officers at a ceremony held June 23 at the Charles County Government auditorium.
The students completed the eight-week training program, which began May 1. Twelve of the graduating officers are from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, four are from the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and one is from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office.
At the ceremony, Academy instructors presented awards to students who excelled in two categories. Correctional Officer Jason Squriewell received the physical fitness award and Correctional Officer Brian St. Germain received the scholastic achievement award. Both are from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.
The class boasted a 94.5 final class academic average. Their class motto, chosen by the students at the beginning of the training program, was “Many Minds, One Team.”
Ms. Theresa M. Satterfield, administrator for the Executive Development Institute of the Police and Correctional Training Commissions, served as keynote speaker for the ceremony. Ed Schauf of the College of Southern Maryland’s legal studies department spoke about the articulation agreement between the Academy and the College, which provides each graduate with six college credit hours for completion of Academy courses. Charles County Sheriff Office Major Michael O’Toole, Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans and Capt. Kenneth Cusick of the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office each shared remarks with the graduates.
The Southern Maryland Criminal Justice Academy congratulates the following new correctional officers: Charles County Sheriff’s Office: John Arcadipane, Jason Burch, John Foster, Richard Horrell, Ryan Johnson, Timothy McCloskey, Kathleen Rackey, Eric Ross, Jason Squriewell, Brian St. Germain, Edward Tabor and Brock Virts. Calvert County Sheriff’s Office: Joshua Buck, Jeffrey Estlack, Charles Lindsay, Jr. and Jason Vercoe. St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office: Thomas Seyfried.