Dear COBA Members,

COBA is pleased to announce that due to the tireless efforts of your Executive Board and in cooperation with the County Executive's Office and the current Administration, Recruit Class #113 began their journey yesterday.

This class of 34 Recruits is the single largest class of recruits in over 15 years!

In addition, this class marks the 3rd Recruit class this year, making 2024 the largest hiring year of Correction Officers in over 15 years!

To put this into perspective, in the last 4 years between 2019-2023, 246 COBA members retired. During that same 4-year period, only 129 were hired.

That is an overall LOSS of 117 Officers.

Since your new Executive Board took office, we have made increasing staffing levels at the facility our number one priority.

As we all know, more Officers will ease the ordered overtime, enable more movement into outside units and facilitate more promotions.

Even though this class just recently started, COBA is already working with the County and Civil Service to secure multiple recruits classes for 2025 and 2026 in anticipation of retirements and normal attrition.

Furthermore, on Friday, September 27th, the Sheriff's Department will be hosting an Awards Ceremony for our members at the David S. Mack Intelligence Center. This marks the first time since 2012 that such a ceremony will be conducted. Currently over 70 COBA members will be receiving awards for actions they performed while on duty.

Also at this ceremony, the Sheriff's Department will be conducting a promotions ceremony for all those who were recently promoted. This is something that hasn’t been done by this Department since 2010.

While we cannot change how things were done in the past, rest assured your COBA Board will not stop fighting to ensure proper staffing and that our members get the recognition and praise they deserve going forward.

The Numbers Don't Lie!

LARGEST Recruit Class since 2008

MOST Recruit Classes in a single year since 2008

MOST Recruits hired in a single year since 2008

FIRST Promotions Ceremony since 2010

FIRST Awards Ceremony since 2012

And we're just getting started!

Sincerely,

Pete LiLLi

President