ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)-- A graduation ceremony honored and awarded six new graduates from the Basic Training and Peace Office Academy, who will now become corrections officers at the Chemung County Jail. The graduates were each presented a certificate of completion followed by a handshake with Chemung County Sheriff Bill Schrom. 

The graduates spent four weeks going through topics like Ethics in Law Enforcement, Legal Issues, Security and Supervision, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, CPR/AED, Written Communication, Manipulation by Inmates, Court Room Testimony, Investigations by Peace Officers and Defensive Tactics.

One of the graduates says the role is about more than just law enforcement.

"A lot of the people that we deal with, they come in at their lowest so it feels great to be able to be someone that can help them through that," says Officer Robert Castrechino, Correction Officer Chemung Co. Sheriff's Office. "Many people don't have many people to rely on, so they see us every day. We can just be that one person that helps them get through it. I'm just, I'm proud of my fellow officers. It's a big achievement for all of us and couldn't be happier." 

Dajieon Garden, also a new graduate says he looks forward to the beginning of the next chapter in this career.

"I look forward to continuing doing what I was doing before serving the community being a good role model for others, and treat others how they want to be treated," says Dajiegon Gardern, Correction Officer Chemung Co. Sheriff's Office.

The graduates include Robert Castrechino, Daijeon Gardner, Logan McKerrow, Brandon Paul, Joshua Schmidt, and Adam Award graduated from the 2024 Basic Training and Peace Office Academy.