MSO celebrates the graduation of 18 new correction officers

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office (MSO) welcomed 18 new correction officers during a ceremony held on June 6 at Tufts University. The graduation ceremony for the 50th Basic Training Academy (BTA) featured a keynote address by Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian as well as powerful remarks by Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley and Tufts University Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Yolanda Smith.

“For 332 years, members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office have played a vital role in ensuring public safety,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “While the challenges we face evolve, our mission remains the same: to keep those in our care safe, and prepare them to return to their families – and our communities – ready to be productive and engaged citizens. I have no doubt that these 18 new officers will ensure we carry out that mission with dignity, pride, and professionalism.”

The new class of officers features nine individuals with familial law enforcement connections five with post-secondary degrees and four with military experience. In addition, seven of the new officers are bilingual (Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Chinese, French and Vietnamese).

The ceremony followed a rigorous 13-and-a half-week academy during which recruits underwent extensive training. The academy included both classroom and hands-on work, as well as the mastering of policies, procedures and skills needed to maintain safety and security. The training focused on topics such as implicit bias, Mental Health First Aid, Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT), de-escalation and communication, first responder training, suicide prevention, and defensive tactics. In addition, all 18 recruits spent time working with veteran members of the MSO team during their on-the-job training at the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction.

The June 6 graduation was the 16th held during Sheriff Koutoujian’s tenure and the fourth since February of 2023.

To learn more about the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and current career opportunities, please visit middlesexsheriff.org/hr.