PAPAIKOU, Hawaii – A new class of adult correctional officers graduated from basic training, a milestone that will enable the re-opening of Kulani Correctional Facility.

A graduation ceremony was held for the 26 recruits at the Papaikou Hongwanji Hall on Friday. Having finished Basic Corrections Training, the officers will begin their careers at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center. The class will fill vacancies at HCCC left by corrections officers transferring to Kulani Correctional Facility when it opens July 1.

“These new recruits will be responsible for the care, custody and treatment of the people who are incarcerated at HCCC,” said Public Safety Director Ted Sakai. “It’s not the easiest environment to work in, but it’s a good career for those who are patient and professional and willing to do their best. Those people will go far.”

The keynote speaker at Friday’s recruit graduation was Hawaii Police Department Assistant Chief Henry Tavares, who leads the Area I Operations in East Hawaii. Assistant Chief Tavares encouraged the new recruits to aim high in their career goals and strive to do their best.

“The example you should set as you carry out your duties is that of a professional,” said Assistant Chief Tavares. “You will go far in your career as long as you are committed to the mission of your department, to uphold justice by providing correctional and law enforcement services to Hawaii’s communities with professionalism, integrity and fairness.”

The new class of adult correctional officers, photo courtesy Department of Public Safety

The Hawaii Department of Public Safety explained the Basic Corrections Training process in media release:

BCT is an 8 week training that includes 320 hours of classroom time and physical training. Recruits learn standard of conduct, professionalism and ethics, report writing, interpersonal communications, maintaining security, crisis intervention, security threat groups, firearms, self-defense tactics, and definitely, physical exercise. Department of Public Safety

A Basic Corrections Training will be held for Kulani Correctional Facility in June.

In March, Governor Neil Abercrombie came to Hilo to visit with the recruits in BCT. Big Island Video News filmed the greeting.