Department of Correction holds Basic Officer Training Course graduation

The Delaware Department of Correction graduated and assigned 16 employees from its Basic Officer Training Course. A total of 11 graduates took the oath of office and were sworn in as probation officers before family, friends, DOC officials and special guest Col. Nathaniel McQueen of the Delaware State Police. The BOTC class also included five community corrections staff, each of whom participated in the training course for the purpose of gaining certification for the departments’ Community Weapons Program.

The ceremony featured remarks by Department of Correction Commissioner Robert M. Coupe, training staff, Chaplain Gus Christo and class speaker Probation Officer Laura McDowell. Coupe thanked friends and relatives of the graduating class for supporting the newly graduated officers during their time in the training academy. The graduates completed 10 weeks of training, including hands-on and classroom sessions in a multitude of areas, including conditions of supervision, offender assessments, hearing presentations, weapons training, defensive tactics, offender contact, report writing, substance abuse training, CPR/Basic First Aid, and interpersonal communication.