Waldorf, Md. — Sergeant Thomas Reece III of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office received the 2025 Non-Academy Instructor of the Year award for corrections from the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions on Oct. 2 at the Public Safety Education and Training Center in Sykesville. The recognition highlights his efforts in officer development through field training programs, annual in-service sessions and the Basic Operator Emergency Response Team School at the Charles County Detention Center.
Reece, a sergeant in the corrections division, coordinated training for new officers entering the field training officer program during the past year, ensuring compliance with state-mandated standards for handling inmate interactions and facility security. He also led in-service training for veteran staff, covering updates to use-of-force policies and de-escalation techniques required under the Correctional Training Act. In the Emergency Response Team curriculum, Reece instructed on tactical responses to disturbances, including cell extractions and perimeter control, drawing from the Maryland Correctional Entry Level Training Program’s emphasis on evidence-based practices.
Following a four-day Knife Control Concepts course in January, Reece created a customized lesson plan integrating those skills into the 2026 in-service agenda. The plan incorporates practical drills on disarming techniques and risk assessment, aligned with MPCTC guidelines for non-lethal interventions in correctional settings. His approach prioritizes hands-on scenarios to build proficiency, reducing incident rates through proactive skill-building.
The award presentation occurred during the MPCTC’s Annual Instructors’ Awards and Training Conference, an event that gathers training coordinators statewide to recognize excellence in professional development. Hosted at the PSETC, the facility spans 855 acres with 11 buildings dedicated to simulations, including a firearms range opened in 2000 and driver training areas. MPCTC staff administer the conference, which supports the Police Training and Standards Commission and Correctional Training Commission by promoting standards under Public Safety Article, Title 3.
Established in 1966 by the Maryland General Assembly, MPCTC sets minimum hiring and training requirements for more than 20,000 certified police and correctional personnel across the state. For corrections, this includes 140 hours of entry-level instruction on topics like ethics, cultural competency and crisis intervention, followed by 16 hours of annual recertification. The non-academy category targets field-based educators like Reece, nominated by agency heads for demonstrated leadership and innovation in ongoing education. Past recipients from Charles County include Sgt. John Arcadipane in 2018, underscoring the office’s consistent focus on instructional quality.
Southern Maryland’s correctional landscape relies on such structured development amid regional growth, where Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties share mutual aid protocols for overflows. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office invests in instructor-led sessions to meet state mandates, including updates to the Correctional Services Article that emphasize trauma-informed care. Reece’s initiative with the knife control module addresses rising concerns over improvised weapons, a focus in 40 percent of use-of-force reviews statewide.
MPCTC’s oversight ensures uniformity, with the PSETC serving as a hub for specialized courses like hazardous materials response and vehicle extrication compliant with NFPA standards. For corrections, this translates to safer environments in counties like Charles, where the Detention Center coordinates with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital for medical handoffs. Reece’s award reinforces the value of internal expertise, as agencies face a 15 percent vacancy rate in entry-level positions despite incentives.
This honor positions Reece as a model for peer instructors, contributing to MPCTC’s mission of safer Maryland communities through elevated training standards. The conference also featured sessions on emerging topics like virtual reality simulations for de-escalation, attended by over 200 professionals.
