WESTFIELD – Westfield State University will honor Carlos Canino with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in the Horace Mann Center lobby on Saturday, October 25 at 10 a.m. The honor is a service award designed for an alumnus that has made an outstanding contribution to the community. Canino earned his B.S. in criminal justice in 1988.
“Carlos has distinguished himself in the criminal justice field,” said Kathi Bradford, director of Alumni Affairs. “His efforts with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, working across teams and among different communities to provide education and promote safety exemplify the spirit of this award and represent the best of the leadership and community service skills with which Westfield State students graduate.”
Canino originally started his collegiate journey at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) where he played football. He was inspired to pursue the criminal justice field when he was sitting by a window in the cafeteria with his friend Dougie and he noticed a number of men in suits pull up in black sedans to escort a seemingly important visitor, who turned out to be former president Jimmy Carter. Canino thought that he would enjoy working in a similar field and, at the time, CCSU did not have a criminal justice program, so Canino decided to transfer to Westfield State where he could both play football and study in the field he wanted to pursue.
Canino was appointed as the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division in February. As the Special Agent in Charge, he is responsible for leading the men and women of the Los Angeles Field Division with enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco trafficking.
A seasoned law enforcement professional, Canino began his ATF career as a Special Agent in 1990, in Yakima, Washington. Rising through the ranks at ATF, Canino has served in several leadership positions including Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division, ATF Mexico Country Attaché, and Supervisory Special Agent in St. Louis, Missouri. He also served as a street agent in Los Angeles, Miami, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“The best thing about my job is being able to serve the community that I work in,” Canino said. “We target the most violent criminals in the country and I enjoy being able to go head to head against those bad guys and removing them from the streets to make the communities safer.”
Canino said he wants criminal justice students to know the success rate of graduates.
“It’s important for students to see that Westfield State alumni are successful in the field,” Canino said. “They can realize that ‘this guy made it, why can’t I make it?’ The university is well represented in federal law enforcement.”
Because he’s in good company in the criminal justice field, Canino said he was surprised to learn he won the award.
“It’s humbling to say the least,” Canino said.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award kicks off Homecoming weekend. For a full list of events, visit www.westfieldalumni.org/homecoming.
