ALFRED — Eight full-time corrections officers and one part-time reserve officer graduated from a seven-week training program through the York County Sheriff’s Office Friday, and were penciled into the schedule for work at York County Jail.

The new officers started Monday, prompting York County Sheriff Maurice Ouellette to lift the staffing emergency he had instituted a couple of weeks ago, as intended.

The very next day, several new applicants began the process to qualify for training and corrections jobs at the jail.

The new hires who started Monday were expected to help alleviate ”“ to some degree ”“ the stress of the existing jail staff, who have been working three to five overtime shifts weekly because of vacancies. As of April 25, there were 22 vacancies, plus seven others out on family or medical leave, prompting Ouellette to call the staffing emergency ”“ the third since January.

The overturn of Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of LD 1824 by the Legislature last week injected $1.2 million into Maine’s 15 county jails. The override is said to mean the state is now in a position to meet its financial obligations to the county jails, prompting the sheriff’s office to jump-start the hiring process for additional officers.

County commissioners make final hiring decisions. They approved the most recent round of new hires who graduated Friday, but they haven’t always done so, due to worry that the state wouldn’t live up to its financial obligations. Under the consolidated system introduced by then-Gov. John Baldacci in 2008, counties pay a capped amount of money to operate the county jails, with the state tasked to make up the remainder. York County contributes about $8.3 million annually.

Ouellette this morning said of 82 applications in hand, about 17 have emerged as candidates for the corrections officer training program. Applicants must undergo a physical agility assessment, a written test, an oral board interview, psychological testing, background investigation and interview with the sheriff prior to training.

The training includes four weeks of classroom work and hands-on instruction, followed by practical application under the direct supervision of a seasoned staff member, according to Chief Deputy Bill King. Once they graduate, the corrections officers are certified by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

The current hiring process is expected to take a little over two months.

“It is a stringent process, but one that the sheriff’s office believes is necessary for such an important position with a significant responsibility and high stress,” King said a prepared statement.

The sheriff’s office continually accepts applications, King said and interested applicants are encouraged to apply online at the York County Sheriff’s Office website www.yorkcountyso.com.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].