Over 200 children from throughout Middlesex County, including 50 from Chelmsford, were recognized by the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department last Friday as graduates of the 2012 Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Youth Public Safety Academy.

The event, now in its 13^th year, is funded through revenues generated by the sheriff’s civil process division and teaches children about first aid skills, fire safety and tours of local police departments along with seminars on building self-esteem and teamwork.

“These are eight of the very best days I get to spend each year,” said Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian of Friday’s event.

More than 1,700 children across 30 Middlesex communities are expected to participate in the program throughout 2012.