Correction Officer Academy Graduation Ceremony Held in…

Correction Officer Academy Graduation Ceremony Held in Oneida County

This evening, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office held it's 2021 Correction Officer Basic Training Academy Graduation Ceremony. The ceremony took place at the Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro. This event was the culmination of approximately eight weeks of intense classroom instruction & testing on a wide array of Correction Officer related laws, policies, and best practices. In addition, there was regular physical fitness training and military drill training.

This recruit class consisted of (14) Correction Officers representing five different counties:

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office :

Correction Officer Natalie Emerick

Correction Officer Hayden Johnson

Correction Officer Joshua Montanez

Correction Officer Gabriella Pianka

Correction Officer Courtney Ponte

Correction Officer Mikayla Scialdone

Correction Officer Joshua Sanchez

Correction Officer Trevor Simzer

Chenango County Sheriff’s Office :

Correction Officer Bryan Bernardi

Correction Officer Austin Lewis

Madison County Sheriff’s Office:

Correction Officer Kyle Hagmann

Correction Officer Chad Hatch

Herkimer County Sheriff’s Office:

Correction Officer Marrick Lawrence

Cortland County Sheriff’s Office :

Correction Officer Leigha Haskins

In addition to the presentation of graduation certificates, the following special awards were also presented:

Class Valedictorian:

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Correction Officer Natalie Emerick

Excellence in Military Drill:

Cortland County Sheriff’s Office Correction Officer Leigha Haskins

Oneida County Correction Officer Courtney Ponte

Excellence in Physical Fitness:

Cortland County Sheriff’s Office Correction Officer Leigha Haskins

The Class of 2021-02 also took this opportunity to Honor Officer Richard Sturgeon as he enters retirement after 36 years of service, with a Flag and Coin.