DORCHESTER—Crews from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department’s Community Works Program (CWP) painted and repaired the National Guard Armory in Dorchester for more than a month this year, saving the Guard nearly $40,000 in labor costs.

Inmate work crews from the Suffolk County House of Correction began work at the 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry National Guard Armory in January and scrapped and painted more than 15 rooms. Some of the rooms were nearly three stories high.

According to National Guard Maj. Arthur Elbthal, the crew was able to use the Guard’s equipment to reach the high ceilings and walls within the Armory’s assembly hall. The work crews washed the areas prior to painting and were able to repaint the chain-link fence surrounding the Victory Road Armory. Among the many jobs the crews accomplished were to scrape off years of old paint and varnish from metal and wood doors and casings, walls, equipment and floors.

“We are extremely satisfied with the job done by the inmates,” said Maj. Elbthal. “It’s a great project, the inmates did their jobs very well. The officer in charge of the crew, Sgt. Robert Griffin, was extremely professional and helpful, he represented the Sheriff’s Department very well.”

The 10-man work crew put in more than 2400 hours of labor over a 39-day period. Work crews consist of properly classified offenders who make restitution in the form of labor in Suffolk County. The crews are supervised by Sheriff’s Deputies while on job sites.

This National Guard unit is the oldest in the country’s history, dating back to the Battle of Lexington during the Revolutionary War.

return to In the News index

:: top of page ::