Text provided by the Middlesex Sheriff's Office:

Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian  proudly recognized the  Everett, Malden, Wakefield and Woburn graduates of the 2012 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy (YPSA) on Friday, July 20, 2012.

The ceremony, which recognized a total of 204 children ages 9-11, was held at the Middlesex Training Academy in Billerica.  Fifty-nine of this week’s graduates were Woburn residents.

This is the 13th year of the academy, which is free to attend.

During Friday’s graduation ceremony, Sheriff Koutoujian addressed the cadets about the importance of using what they learned during the week-long camp to help keep themselves and others safe.  He also talked to them about teamwork, self-esteem and role models, pointing to their parents, as well as the police officers, firefighters and sheriff’s department personnel they met during the week.

Over the course of the week cadets were taught basic first aid skills and fire safety, participated in teambuilding exercises, were able to tour their local police and fire departments and participated in a series of demonstrations.

Among those on hand for Friday’s graduation were Woburn Police Captain Jim Martin and Officer Anthony Imperioso.  Officer Imperioso worked with the camp all week.

More than 1700 youngsters from various Middlesex County communities will participate in the academy over eight weeks this summer.