National Correctional Officers and Employees Week at CCA
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Northeast Ohio Correctional Center public information officer Jillian Shane and unit manager David Yemma work the grill
This year’s festivities for National Correctional Officers and Employees Week (May 3-7) drew together CCA employees across the company. While some popular traditions were carried over from previous years, facilities continue to find new, innovative ways to honor staff and share some memorable times in the process.
“I consider this week a special time for us to take pride in the work we do on a daily basis, and for others to show their appreciation for our hard work,” says Alex Martinez, disciplinary council substitute at Willacy County State Jail. “During the week, some officers take time to reflect on the many fallen or injured correctional staff, but regardless of how we spend it, this week is a way to say thank you and keep doing what you’re doing.”
Willacy employees commemorated the occasion with meals for all three shifts on Friday. Likewise, at Leavenworth Detention Center, the week culminated with steak dinners on both Thursday and Friday, and the Facility Support Center (FSC) hosted a cook-out on Friday. Additionally, FSC employees joined Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility employees for a cook-out.
"During the celebration Metro's chief of unit management Jerry Wardlow was honored for his recent promotion to assistant warden at Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility," says Darlene Pendleton, warden's secretary at Metro. "Several of FSC's employees and executive staff joined this wonderful occasion by assisting in decorating, serving and congratulating the staff on a job well done. We were extremely honored to have our President and CEO Damon Hininger to join us."
On Monday, Otter Creek Correctional Center kept the fun going by holding hourly prize drawings. Winners received CCA T-shirts, mugs, Wal-Mart gift cards and more. Throughout the rest of the week staff enjoyed a different treat each day, including ice cream, pizza, candy bars, soda, and a cookout, complete with a balloon toss, free throw contest and corn hole toss.
“The staff look forward to correctional week each year, and it raises the morale,” says Linda Little, warden’s secretary at Otter Creek. “Everyone participates in the activities on Friday, which gives the security staff a chance to get to know the non-security staff a little better. The non-security staff relieves the security staff from their post so they can enjoy the activities, and food.”
Like Otter Creek, Central Arizona Detention Center, Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, North Georgia Detention Center and San Diego Correctional Facility employees enjoyed daily treats, from ice cream sundaes to pizza, hot dogs, tacos, baked potatoes and barbecue. Staff also received gift bags filled with CCA merchandise.
“Department heads are involved in every event, handing out food to the rest of the staff and thanking them for their work,” says Samantha Poloski, warden’s secretary at San Diego.
Marion County Jail II staff gathered for a luncheon and dinner and received snacks and candy throughout the week. The facility also held an essay contest on the topic, “What it means to be a corrections professional.” The facility partnered with Aramark to provide gift bags to the top five contest winners. Warden Jeff Conway, assistant warden and public information officer Michelle Ryder, and Aramark food services manager Ben Grosevenor selected the winner: correctional officer Marilyn Mitchell (to read Mitchell’s essay, click here). The four runners-up were chaplain Josh Stacy, case manager Vera Taylor, correctional officer Jamie Appleget and administrative clerk Cathy Herzog.
A very different contest also took place at Marion County Jail II during the week.
“All week long, staff voted for a contest in which a department head ended up with a pie in their face at the end of the week,” says Ryder. But at the last minute all four of the executive staff decided to join in. “Those of us who volunteered to have the pies in our faces got to pick who we wanted to throw the pies; they showed us no mercy!”
At Florence Correctional Center, employees enjoyed ice cream, Frito pie and barbecue and received lanyards with the inscription, “FCC One Team One Fight.” On Thursday 11 staff members - including warden Jim McDonald and assistant wardens Michael Donahue and Byron Brown - washed co-workers’ cars to show their appreciation.
Marion Adjustment Center hosted a pizza lunch for all three shifts, along with a ribeye luncheon where staff played bean bag toss games.
“The staff look forward to getting to mingle with staff from different departments that they may otherwise not get to speak with,” says Amanda Furkin, records supervisor at Marion Adjustment Center. “Staff also enjoy the change of pace when we have these special events planned.”
How did your facility spend NCOEW this year? What’s your favorite part of the festivities, or most memorable time from previous years? Tell us about it by sounding out.
By DeAndra Mack
Sound Out
Kristy Ricks at Wheeler Correctional Facility:
During National Correctional Worker's Week at Wheeler Correctional Facility, our staff celebrated as follows: Monday--- Popcorn and soda Day; Tuesday--- Breakfast and Pizza Day; Wednesday-- Banana Split Day; Thursday-- Popcorn and Sodas again and we gave each staff member a goody bag filled with chips, candy, and a cca pin; Friday-- Fish Fry.. We had a fish fry and also recognized our warden Mr. Ralph Kemp for receiving Warden of the Year - We surprised him by inviting family members, fellow co-workers, and close friends to join us and also share stories about Warden Kemp. Throughout the week we had a fishing rodeo where staff members were allowed to fish at the facility pond which led up to our fish fry on Friday..
Kristy Ricks at Wheeler Correctional Facility:
During National Correctional Worker's Week at Wheeler Correctional Facility, our staff celebrated as follows: Monday--- Popcorn and soda Day Tuesday--- Breakfast and Pizza Day Wednesday-- Banana Split Day Thursday-- Popcorn and Sodas again and we gave each staff member a goody bag filled with chips, candy, and a cca pin Friday-- Fish Fry.. We had a fish fry and also recognized our warden Mr. Ralph Kemp for receiving Warden of the Year.. We surprised him by inviting family members, fellow co-workers, and close friends to join us and also share stories about Warden Kemp. Throughout the week we had a fishing rodeo where staff members were allowed to fish at the facility pond which led up to our fish fry on Friday..