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| Shining Stars |
| By Ann Coppola and Jim Montalto |
| Published: 05/28/2007 |
This May DOCs across the country celebrated their employees, recognized the highest achievers and also held ceremonies honoring those who have given their lives in the line of duty. COs, parole officers and other employees were honored for preventing escapes, saving lives, pitching in when needed and for many other brave and diligent actions.These men and women serve as strong role models and are the epitome of what an employee, regardless of profession, should strive to be. Congratulations to all of you who have been honored for your hard work and dedication. Detailed below are corrections employees nationwide who have been honored for their fine performance and hard work. MERCER COUNTY JAIL, PENNSYLVANIA CO Erin Resele – Mercer County Jail Resele, 28, has been a Mercer County Jail CO since 2003, and is Mercer County Prison Board’s Corrections Officer of the Year. Resele was chosen by Warden Jeffrey Gill and the prison board and was awarded a plaque. “She’s an absolutely superb officer,” says Deputy Warden Erna Craig. “She does what she’s expected to do and never complains. People would love to have her as an employee.” This is not Resele’s first award: in October of 2004, she earned a commendation for discovering contraband drugs in the jail. RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS  CO John Shimkus Shimkus has been a CO with the RIDOC since 1991, and is one of five members of the Rhode Island Army National Guard’s 173rd Infantry Detachment to be awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service in Iraq. Shimkus, who works the day shift at RIDOC’s Intake Service Center, led more than 40 long-range surveillance missions between January and November of 2005. “Not only are we extremely proud of Officer Shimkus for his outstanding service as one of our most dedicated correctional officers, but also for his brave and selfless service to our country,” says RIDOC Director A.T. Wall.  CO Julian Robinson Robinson, who has served with the RIDOC since 1988, is letter of commendation recipient for rescuing an inmate who appeared to be ready to jump from the third tier at the maximum security facility. When staff and inmates observed an inmate sitting above the outside hand railing and leaning off the tier, Robinson quickly responded by seizing the inmate from behind and pulling him off the railing. “I am convinced that your quick response and decisive action saved a human life,” RIDOC Director A.T. Wall writes in the commendation letter. ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS For Correctional Officer Week, the AZDOC honored ten COs involved with the Arizona Wildland Fire Crew, which is responsible for responding to and controlling wild land fires. The AZDOC firefighting crews are made up of 345 trained responders, 45 officer supervisors and 300 inmates. The crews, which responded to 97 fires last year, also clear brush and help with the reforestation of rural areas.  Wildland Fire officers with Governor Janet Napolitano and Director Dora Schriro The officers honored, each from a different state prison, attended a proclamation signing for Correctional Officer Week with Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and AZDOC Director Dora Schiro. Congratulations to COs David Ruiz, Gabriel Mata, Daniel Eaton, Rosalio Vasquez, Juan Ramos, Patrick Rush, Lehi Vizcaino, Terry Abihai, Wade Damms, Yolanda Ceballos. MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Michael Montgomery, a 20-year MIDOC veteran and a leadership training coordinator, recently received a professional excellence award and also is the winner of the 2006 Director’s award for his outstanding dedication and work in the leadership development unit. The Director’s Profes¬sional Excellence Awards are given annually to em¬ployees who are consid¬ered exceptional in their job performance. The Director’s Award is given to one employee from among those selected for the Professional Excel¬lence Awards. “Mike’s work has had a positive impact on literally thousands of department employees,” say Director Patricia L. Caruso. “He has devoted countless hours to becoming an expert and remaining current in the areas of leadership, classroom facilitation and motivation.” Montgomery joined the central office training staff in 2000 and has helped countless staff members develop and sharpen their leadership skills. “Mike displays all of the traits necessary for consummate public speaking/motivation and I would stack him up against any professional speaker I’ve heard,” adds Training Coordinator Jeff Ferris. ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Five outstanding front line employees were also honored as 2007 Correctional Officers of the Year at a ceremony in Springfield. “In every decision we make and in every action we take, safety is at the forefront of our operations,” Walker says. “This fine group of men and women serve with steadfast commitment in fulfilling the mission of the Illinois Department of Corrections.” This year’s employees were presented with recognition letters from the governor and ILDOC and ILDJJ directors and a $500 check from the Employee Benefit Fund. Employees receiving top honors are: CO Michael Range - Range does an outstanding job maintaining organization of the office, ensuring all staff time usage issues are addressed and overtime information is processed in a professional and timely manner. He is always willing to stop what he is doing to assist staff with problems and questions concerning attendance or overtime issues.  CO Michael Range (left) receives a plaque from ILDOC Director Walker and Chief of Operations Rick Bard (right). Range was CO of the Year of the Adult Division. CO Vincente Nerio - Nerio has a positive attitude and professional demeanor. He is a self-motivated employee who continuously takes the initiative to assist his fellow staff members, often volunteering to assist with line movement, escorting visitors and processing paperwork for signatures.  ILDOC Director Roger E. Walker Jr. (left) and Deputy Director of Women and Family Services Debbie Denning (right) congratulate CO Vincente Nerio, who was named Correctional Officer of the Year for the Women and Family Services Division. Correctional Residence Counselor Gather Warnsley - Warnsley reports to his shift as scheduled with little use of sick time. His coordinator duties, which he excels in at the center, includes bureau of identification coordinator and key and lock and volunteer coordinator. He stepped in as a training and drug testing coordinator and has done an outstanding job in handling those positions.  From left, ILDOC Director Walker, Correctional Residence Counselor I Gather Warnsley and Supervisor Tony Wallace of Decatur Adult Transition Center and Acting Deputy Director of Parole Operations with Security Jason Garnett. Warnsley was overall winner of ATC front line staff. Youth Supervisor II Kess Roberson - Roberson is assigned to the confinement area on 2nd shift, which is a critical position that requires someone with great knowledge, a positive attitude, professionalism, teamwork and commitment. By meeting these requirements, Roberson can manage the difficult youth placed in confinement for discipline issues and can ensure that the safety and well being of the youths are met. Senior Parole Agent Tina Butler - Butler’s evaluations read like a tribute from every supervisor. She is professional, dependable, dedicated, a proven leader and is always there when needed. She assists supervisors, fellow agents, clerical staff and others in need of help, advice or counsel. Butler has always approached her position with respect, dignity and style, never allowing any of her personal feelings to interfere with her sworn duty.  From left, ILDOC Director Walker, District 5 Parole Supervisor Paul Carlson, and Acting Chief of Parole Jesse Montgomery. Carlson accepted an award on behalf of senior parole agent Tina Butler, who was named Parole Officer of the Year. May 8 also was a day to honor, recognize and remember COs who have died.  An officer pays his respect to ILDOC’s most recent fallen hero, Anthony “Tony” Lee, who was killed in a traffic accident April 12, 2007, while transporting Industry products from Illinois River Correctional Industries to Hill Correctional Industries. NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Recently, the NHDOC awarded two medals: Lt. Daniel Boynton received an honorable service reward for his off duty rescue of a car accident victim. He pulled the victim from the car and performed CPR. The victim briefly had a pulse but later died in a hospital. MASSCHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Middlesex Sheriff James V. DiPaola presented awards to four outstanding members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in honor of National Correctional Officers Week. Honorees included Lieutenant Joe Joubert, Captain Tom Maloney, Assistant Deputy Superintendent Scott McClory, and Lieutenant Richard Vivier. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE Five-year TDCJ veteran, Sergeant Jason Acheson, has been recognized as a hardworking, dependable and conscientious shift supervisor who is well respected by his subordinates, peers and supervisors. This April, Acheson prevented the escape of an offender who had a jail and prison history of escape when he discovered a well concealed hole that led outside the building confines. CO Donald Taylor is the 2007 National Corrections Staff Week Honoree. Since 2005, Taylor has been a diligent worker and is always the first to volunteer for collateral duty positions. He works on the second shift at the Rudd unit and also serves as the law library alternate, collateral duty safety officer, and unit staff support officer. CO Billy Olivio began his career with the TDCJ in 1995. He has 18 offenders assigned to him and is very detail oriented regarding the professional upkeep and landscaping of his one square mile of acreage. He also serves as the liaison between his unit and other organizations to ensure the grounds are clean. Olivio also maintains state vehicles and works overtime on the weekends as security for visitation or any where else he is needed. Olivio was nominated as honoree officer of the month. CO Thomas Stephenson was selected as employee of the month by his peers. He has been a TDCJ employee for about 12 years, and is a four-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. Stephenson has worked all areas of security and is presently assigned to first shift security. He is always willing to help when shifts are short staffed and he volunteers to help with other shifts on his days off. Related resources: Superstar Staff, 4/23/07 |
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