Patrick T. DePalo, Jr. started as a Correction Officer I in 1989 with the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Working through the ranks to become the Deputy Commissioner of Field Services. Responsibilities included the Office of Investigative Services, which oversees the Department Duty Station, Criminal Prosecution, Central Intelligence, Fugitive Apprehensions, and Internal Affairs Units. As well as the Special Operations Division, which oversees the tactical response, weapons response, K-9 and perimeter patrol units and the department’s central transportation unit, including high risk transportation. The Community work crews, and the Security and technology divisions were also under his responsibility. Patrick retired from the Department of Correction in October 2022 after 33 years.

Patrick has held several specialty positions throughout his career, including Inner Perimeter Security Commander, Superintendent’s Investigator, Administrative Captain, and the Departmental Hearings Officer. He has elevated through each security rank and appointed to Director of Security (2005), Deputy Superintendent of Operations (2010) and Chief of Investigative services (2015), Assistant Deputy Commissioner (2018) and Deputy Commissioner (2020).

Patricks’ career spans five (5) different correctional facilities, covering all security levels – Minimum, Medium, and Maximum including the department’s forensic psychiatric state hospital.

Patrick has been chosen for Employee of the Year three times by the executive management team, and he also received an Outstanding Performance Recognition Award from the Governor’s Office. Patrick completed the Commonwealth Management Certificate Program and was certified by the Department of Justice as a PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) auditor. He is trained in Dispute Resolution as a Mediator and sworn Commissioner in the administration of Public Officers’ oath.

He has participated as a member of the department’s Tactical Response Team and Special Reaction weapons team with the Special Operations Division.

He was a member of ACA (American Correctional Association), NIAIA (National Internal Affairs Investigators Association, Massachusetts Chief of Police Association, FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association) and Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #14. He sat as a member of the JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force) executive board and was a member of the Criminal Justice Advisory board for Anna Maria College.

Patrick has obtained several specialized certifications to include, but not limited to, Internal Affairs investigator, Civilian and Law Enforcement response to active shooter events, Medical Preparedness/ response to bombing incidents, Tactical Combat Causality Care, Criminal Law investigations as well as analytical investigations.

Patrick has been deputized as a sworn Deputy Sheriff in Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Worcester and Plymouth counties. He was a Sworn Special State Police Officer and held a Top-Secret clearance from the FBI. He was deputized as a task force officer under the US Title code 18 and 21 for the FBI. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Deviance and Social Control from Framingham State University and he received his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. He is a current adjunct professor at Anna Maria College for the criminal justice program both on campus and online. He graduated from the 20th Boylston MPTC reserve police academy, where he was the class vice president and currently a POST certified police officer.