MSO Lieutenant recognized during Correctional Employee of the Year Ceremony

BOSTON – Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Arthur Ramalho, Jr. was honored during the 2015 Correctional Employee of the Year ceremony held at the Massachusetts State House on October 2.

Lt. Ramalho was presented with the Meritorious Recognition Award for his actions May 11, 2015, preventing a 29-year-old pre-trial detainee entering the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction from swallowing a bag of heroin. 

Responding to a request for assistance with a new detainee acting suspiciously in the jail’s holding area, Lt. Ramalho reviewed video which appeared to show the detainee attempting to hide something.  Lt. Ramalho then moved the detainee to another cell at which point the individual placed a bag – later determined to be heroin – in his mouth.  After giving multiple orders to get the drugs out of his mouth, Lt. Ramalho was able to get the detainee to spit it out.

“Lt. Ramalho’s actions that evening not only prevented illicit drugs from entering our facility, but very likely prevented the detainee from overdosing,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian.  “While this award recognized his efforts for one specific event, Lt. Ramalho is remarkably consistent in the performance of his duties each and every day.  He is an outstanding representative of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office and the corrections profession as a whole.”

In total, 21 corrections officers from the Massachusetts Department of Correction and Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester Sheriff’s Offices were recognized during the annual State House ceremony.

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