ALFRED — The staffing emergency at York County Jail that has been in effect since last fall was scheduled to be lifted today.

That is because on Friday, 10 newly trained corrections officers, after several weeks of study and job shadowing, were awarded their badges in a graduation ceremony, held at the jail, attended by family and friends. They were added to the schedule, and were due to start work almost immediately.

Some are just beginning to make their way in the world, others have moved to corrections from other endeavors.

Pauline Mayo is among the graduates. She’d worked as a reserve officer at the old jail on Route 4, but left to raise her family. Now, the 42 year-old triathlete, who has previously worked as a substitute teacher, is ready to begin a new chapter.

“I enjoy being around people,” she said. She was joined at the event by her parents, Therese and Robert Champagne – her dad doing the honors, pinning on her badge.

Ben Bell, 19, said he saw corrections as a way to begin a career in law enforcement and hopes one day to be a road deputy.

Nicole Root earned an associates degree in paralegal studies and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and has set her sights on being a probation officer. She described her previous work in the retail industry and doing home care as “jobs,” but is now embarking on a career.

“I’m very pleased with this group,” York County Sheriff William “Bill” King told those assembled. He noted that among the 10 graduates are some who were in the National Honor Society in high school. As well, three have bachelor’s degrees, one has an associates degree, three are in college, two played football, two took part in wrestling, one is a golf champion, one is a triathlete and another is trained in martial arts. As well, two have served in the military and one continues to serve in the National Guard, King said.

Corrections Officer Dave Desjardins, who has worked at the jail for a decade, told the new hires he’d once managed an auto parts store.

“I wanted more, something in law enforcement,” he said. “I did it and I’ve never looked back. I still wake up and want to come to work. ”

As a fellow corrections officer, Desjardins welcomed the new hires: “You”˜re not only our co-workers, but part of our family … we depend on each other,” he said.

The staffing emergency came as a result of multiple vacancies – at one period in November, there were as many as 21 vacant positions, about one quarter of the staff who work on the jail floor. There have been a number of recruiting efforts – King on Friday said the 10 graduates came from a pool of 60 applicants.

King pointed out that since the staffing emergency was put in place Oct. 2, existing staff had been working as many as three or four 16-hour days in a row.

“It’s extremely difficult and stressful and hard on families,” King pointed out.

At a reception following the ceremony, 14-year corrections officer Jeff Webber said the hiring is a “positive step forward.”

“It’s a relief for all of us, and (they’re) a great addition to the family,” Webber said of the new staffers.

Corrections officers received training in ethics and values, escape prevention and response, Maine criminal statutes, principles of hostage incidents, the role and history of a corrections officer, principles of security, constitutional law, corrections standards, patterns of inmate behavior, interpersonal behavior and skills, principles of inmate discipline, supervision of inmates and more.

Mayo, reflecting on her decision to re-enter the world of corrections, said inmates are incarcerated because they’ve broken the law.

“But there’s always a chance to inspire somebody,” she said.

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