News  Second Probation Academy Class graduates and receive badges

The second new class of Probation Officers, who began their training in Probation Officer Academy earlier this month, graduated and were presented with their badges by Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill before an audience of friends, family, and colleagues on Friday, June 20th, at the Massachusetts Probation Service Training and Operations Center (MTOC).

The new Probation Officers represent the Central Division of the Boston Municipal Court (BMC), Worcester Superior, Waltham District, Fitchburg District, Plymouth Juvenile, Suffolk Juvenile, Suffolk Superior, Lawrence District, Essex Superior, Berkshire Juvenile, Fall River District, Norfolk Probate & Family, Dudley District, and Suffolk Probate & Family.

The PO's are the second class to participate in the new academy located at the Massachusetts Training and Operations Center (MTOC) in Clinton. The Massachusetts Correctional Officer Federated Union (MCOFU) Pipes and Drums Corps and the Massachusetts Trial Court Honor Guard opened the ceremony followed by Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC) Lt. Arthur Comer singing “The National Anthem.”

Commissioner Pamerson addressed the audience and spoke about clients’ struggles and challenges and the role of a Probation Officer. “We’re in the ‘Second Chance’ business. I don’t care who you are or where you are from. This is about giving people the opportunity to be successful,” said Commissioner Ifill.

Massachusetts Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Shawn Jenkins delivered the keynote address to the audience and thanked the graduates for being Probation Officers.

“I really want to thank the Probation Officers for working in this industry. This industry now needs more good quality people than we ever had,” said Commissioner Jenkins who said staffing is one of the biggest challenges of DOC and law enforcement agencies.

Commissioner Jenkins informed the audience that DOC has 13 institutions with 6,000 individuals under its care and custody as well as d 4,000 DOC employees and an additional 1,500 contracted staff members, including doctors, nurses, and clinicians.

One sweet moment happened during the ceremony when Commissioner Ifill invited 2.8 year-old Kenzie, the daughter of Academy graduate Stephanie Duff, to the podium as she began to get fussy and restless in the audience. Kenzie, dressed in a blue dress and with a white ribbon tied in her hair, ran to the front of the room and jumped into Commissioner Ifill’s arms as he pronounced her “Commissioner for the Day.”