Department of Correction graduates 221st academy
In a ceremony held Sept. 29, the Delaware Department of Correction graduated and assigned 31 employees from its Correctional Employee Initial Training academy. The graduates took the oath of office and received their assignments in front of family, friends, and DOC officials. CEIT class #221 consisted of 25 correctional officers, two correctional counselors, two Department of Education teachers, and two work program coordinators.
The ceremony featured remarks by DOC Deputy Commissioner Alan Grinstead, training staff and Chaplain Gus Christo, and inspirational words from class speaker Correctional Officer Joseph Kraft. It also included the presentation of the Outstanding Cadet Award to Correctional Officer Joseph Kraft.
Four correctional officers from the Carroll County DOC in New Hampshire attended the ceremony, representing the Cannonball Memorial Run. They, along with hundreds more officers around the country, have traveled across the nation collecting patches from law enforcement agencies that have experienced recent losses. These patches were presented to Attorney General Jeff Sessions Oct. 2 during a ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Members of CEIT Class #221 completed 10 weeks of training, including hands-on and classroom sessions in a multitude of capacities. Areas of concentration included inmate supervision, weapons and chemical munitions, defensive tactics, emergency preparedness, report writing, substance abuse training, CPR/Basic First Aid and interpersonal communication. They will now join the ranks of more than 2,500 employees who uphold the department's mission of protecting the public by supervising nearly 7,000 adult offenders in facilities throughout the state.
Grinstead commended the graduates and provided words of encouragement as they begin their law enforcement careers. "You are joining the DOC at a pivotal point in our history: Choose to lead by example, exhibit professionalism and integrity, and maintain a positive attitude," he said.
The instruction team for CEIT Class #221 consisted of primary instructor Randall Meding, instructor team Cpl. Dallas Johnson and Cpl. Shahida Santiago, and drill instructors Lt. George Mosley and Sgt. Rufus Jones. An alphabetical list of graduating cadets is below:
Correctional officers are Jean Almestica, Ernest Banahene, Aretha Brooks, Tiesean Curington, Ryan Curry, Gatah Duniya, Jason Faust, Keith Hernandez, Kylil Hinman, Cornelius Horgan, Vondaa King, Joseph Kraft, Jennifer Lewis, Briayna Mabry, Peggy Miller, Aaron Newton, Robert Rochester, Steven Schemeley, Brent Schoof, Steven Schoolfield, Traneigh Triplett, Yidel Velasquez, Byron Waugh II, Larry Welch Jr. and Cara Zeman.
Correctional counselors are Tina Cooper and Larkay Wesley.
DOE teachers are John Freidel and Rozie Townsend-Reed.
Work program coordinators are Leroy Jett and Matthew Seaton.
