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| MA DOC Honors Local Men |
| By The Sun News |
| Published: 12/12/2005 |
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James Sweeney knows the nooks, the crannies -- and more importantly, the sewer system of the Northeast Correction Center in Concord -- like the back of his weathered hand. As a maintenance worker and now supervisor for this venerable old minimum-security facility for a total of nine years, Sweeney shares something important with the place -- a year of birth. “We were both manufactured in 1934,” Sweeney, of Lowell, joked. At 71, Sweeney said he and his staff of two keep the seven-building facility functioning just like NCC keeps him going. “Why would I retire when I'm doing what I love to do?” he asked. It is his dedication to his job that Sweeney and Corrections Officer Sgt. Richard Sitcawich, also a Lowell resident, were recently honored by the Massachusetts Department of Correction with its 2005 Beyond Excellence Awards. Sitcawich, who lives with his wife Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, a recent candidate for Lowell City Council, received a commissioner's citation for his idea of posting a “Wanted” poster inside MCI-Concord that led to the arrest of an inmate who walked away from NCC. Sweeney, an industrial instructor at NCC, was named Employee of the Year at that facility. Sweeney, a 21-year employee of the DOC, was commended by Commissioner Kathleen M. Dennehy for his skills in the maintenance of one of the older correctional facilities at the DOC. “Jim Sweeney's dedication and hard work have been assets to the day to day operations of Northeastern Correctional Center,” said James Saba, superintendent at NCC. During Sweeney's past years as supervisor, “He established an effective preventative maintenance program that saved the institution a great deal of money. He also supervised an inmate workforce that provided plumbing, electrical, and general maintence functions of the institution,” Saba said. “Jim is considered a valued member of the operation and is a pleasure to work with, a true professional. He fosters good work ethics and is a good role model for co-workers and inmates alike.” Sweeney, who is humbled by the award, said, “It's an honor.” Sweeney said he sort of stumbled in the job working for the DOC more than two decades ago when this former textile worker found himself out of work and needing a job. “A friend of mine kept after me for two years to come work with him,” he said. Sweeney admits this isn't glamous work, but every day is a challenge. From light bulbs to boilers, Sweeney, who is neither a licensed plumber nor electrician, has become sort of a jack of all trades. “I'm not a Mr. Fix-It, but I have an overall knowledge of plumbing and electricity,” he said. “They call this a prison, but it is really handled like another other business.” Except that at any given time, Sweeney “hires” a dozen or so of the 250 inmates at this minimum-security facility as his employees. He chooses inmates who have skills in carpentry, electrical and plumbing work. He doesn't want to know the crime that has them doing time, just their work skills. “I treat them firmly, but fairly,” he said. “Respect is the key.” His family is key to his success. Sweeney celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary last May 8 with his wife Constance, and his two sons -- Robert is a corrections officer and James is a teacher -- both live in the area. Sweeney doesn't seem himself retiring anytime soon. At 38, Sitcawich, who has 17 years at the DOC, isn't as old as Sweeney, but he has an equal amount of dedication and invention. After an inmate walked away from NCC on Sept. 24, 2004, Sitcawich, who oversees a number of sections at the neighboring MCI-Concord, wanted to get the word out to as many corrections officers as possible. Since there was no longer a roll call for officers, Sitcawich posted a “Wanted” poster containing the inmate's photograph and vital statistics at the time clock so that it would be immediately seen by the next shift. It worked. At the shift change, one of the officers saw the poster and knew he had just seen the inmate at a Mobil gas station at Crosby's Corner in Concord. Within 10 minutes the inmate was apprehended as he walked along Route 2 in Concord. “It (the Wanted poster) was just an idea I had and it worked,” he said. Dennehy, DOC commissioner, described Sitcawich's idea as “a significant contribution to public safety.” “I like what I do because every day is different,” Sitcawich said. As for the commissioner's citation, Sitcawich said modestly, “My wife was thrilled.” |
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