POSTED ON: NOVEMBER 13, 2025 – 2:13PM
The Essex County Sheriff’s Department is proud to announce that Sgt. Charles “Charlie” Ober has been named the 2025 Training Officer of the Year by the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, recognizing his outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to developing the next generation of correctional professionals.
“Sgt. Ober’s vision and dedication have raised the bar for what training can and should be in modern corrections,” said Essex County Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. “His work has directly enhanced our recruitment, preparedness, retention, and leadership development. The Massachusetts Sheriffs Association could not have chosen a more deserving recipient.”
Sgt. Ober, a New Hampshire native, has been instrumental in strengthening training and professional development across the department. In 2024, he helped launch the department’s first Recruit Officer Training Program, giving new hires hands-on experience before the Academy. Under his leadership, recruits entered the Academy more confident, better prepared, and often emerged as top performers and informal leaders. The program also improved retention and enhanced the agency’s onboarding process.
He also co-developed the Improved Field Training Officer Program, a structured mentorship system that guides new officers through their probationary period, strengthening morale and reducing attrition.
As Senior Drill Instructor, Sgt. Ober has trained 43 correctional officers across two academy cycles and is currently training 18 more. He has also contributed to supervisory development by teaching the Officer-in-Charge of Primary Response course for the department’s Front Line Supervisors Leadership program, earning top evaluation scores.
Through detailed after-action reports and continuous refinement of training practices, Sgt. Ober has helped build a stronger, more effective training infrastructure for the department.
For his exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to developing others, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department is honored to celebrate Sergeant Charles “Charlie” Ober as the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association Training Officer of the Year.