Release #350-00

 

Contact:	Sunny Mindel/Michael Anton (212) 788-2958
	John Mohan (Correction) (212) 266-1055

Deputy Mayor for Operations Joseph J. Lhota-attending on behalf of Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani-and Acting Correction Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan today presided over the graduation ceremony for 310 probationary Correction Officers. Also during the ceremony, held at Queens College in Flushing, Queens, Deputy Mayor Lhota and Acting Commissioner Lanigan administered the oath of office to 45 Correction Captains, 16 Assistant Deputy Wardens, 8 Deputy Wardens, and one Deputy Warden-in-Command. In addition, Assistant Chief Steven Conry, and Bureau Chiefs Catherine Raymond and Robert Dash were also sworn in today.

"To those of you who are receiving promotions this morning, congratulations on taking part in the most significant turnaround in the history of the Department of Correction," Deputy Mayor Lhota said. "To those of you who are just joining the ranks of New York's Boldest, have pride in the knowledge that you are now members of an elite law enforcement organization that is respected throughout the world.

"The members of this Department are full partners in our City's historic crime decline. Correction Officers are civic heroes on the same level as Police Officers and Firefighters-highly trained, uniformed officers who dedicate their lives to keeping their fellow citizens safe from harm," Deputy Mayor Lhota continued.

Acting Commissioner Lanigan said, "As Acting Commissioner, this is my first opportunity to address a new class of Academy graduates and promotees. I am very proud that our Department has gained the reputation as a well-managed system. It was only with the aid of a strongly supportive Mayor and an unmatched team of Correction professionals that we have achieved such dramatic results."

Today's graduates completed a rigorous 12 week training program at the Correction Academy in Queens.