County Swears In Seven Sergeants and Assist. Warden

VALHALLA – The Westchester County Department of Correction (WCDOC) held a formal promotional ceremony at their grasslands complex for one new Assistant Warden and seven Sergeants. Dignitaries, department officials and approximately 36 family members gathered at the Training Academy Building located at the Jail campus.

County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “One of the most important functions of County government is the safe running of a correctional facility. As part of supporting that process, we continue to ensure that our Correction Department keeps pace with employee retirements and the State Commission of Correction staffing requirements. Also, to better support our newly promoted Assistant Warden and Sergeants, the DOC Administration has proactively enhanced the training curriculum for all levels of their sworn workforce. That enhanced training combined with their experience and individual skillsets should prove beneficial as they transition into your new roles. We will continue to provide resources to support the advancement of our Correction Department, its workforce and those remanded into their care and custody.”

Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerald welcomed attending dignitaries and promotional class family members. As Deputy Commissioner in charge of the training academy he said: “To support our new supervisors, the Department continues to identify ways to enhance academy training curriculum. Some formal training enhancements include effective communication, more on-the-job scenario-based training, debriefing modules, WDOC IT systems instruction, use of force and De-escalation, off-site formal middle and senior management leadership training sessions.”

In addressing the promotional class, Correction Commissioner Joseph K. Spano touched on expectations, including the potential impact that each individual supervisor can have on different aspects of DOC operations.

Spano stated: “As newly promoted Assistant Warden and Sergeants, you are expected to meet the challenges of your new positions and work up to our expectations by serving as strong leaders, mentors, role models and agents for positive changes. Let your experience, actions, words and new ideas serve to enhance the growth of our nationally recognized department, the growth of our workforce and the growth of the individuals in our care. In your new management and supervisory roles, you join a large group of individuals who have been promoted over the course of the past five years. Collectively, you represent the future of our agency, so give maximum effort and be difference makers that we know you can be.”

Commissioner Spano also thanked the academy staff and instructors for that great work they did to prepare the new promotional class.

The Westchester County Department of Correction is considered a national leader in the space, recognized for its robust rehabilitation program system and accreditation certifications through the American Correctional Association, the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare and the Prison Rape Elimination Act.