Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. CORRECTIONS BEHIND THE FENCE. BRIAN DAWE A Matter of Honor O n September 26, 2008 11 correctional officers from across the United States received the highest honor of all; peer recognition by their fellow officers for going above and beyond the call of duty. In Flagstaff, Arizona officers from California, Massachusetts, more stories — but more medals. New York, Florida, Washington DC and Kansas were awarded the The stories of these officers and the corrections profession American Correctional Officer Medal of Honor. Over 150 officers were depicted by slide shows and Powerpoint presentations. The from 25 states attended the ceremony. There were officers, serfeatured speaker was Dora Schriro, Ph.D., Director for the Arizona geants, lieutenants, captains, wardens and directors in attendance Department of Corrections. The awards banquet was held on the honoring these men and women who give so much. Officers came second evening of the annual ACO Fall Conference. Hundreds from as far away as Alaska to attend and show their respect. of officers attended the conference and dozens more came for the The ACO Medal of Honor was founded by correctional ofbanquet. The Arizona Honor Guard and Pipe Band posted and ficers for correctional officers. It’s the only retired the colors. Sergeant Katina Murphy gave national recognition the corrections profesthe crowd goose bumps with her incredible sion receives. With various jurisdictions and rendition of the National Anthem. elected officials recognizing different dates for Correctional Officers Week, and recognition by the media and the public being he awards are divided into three Bronze Medal of Honor: Correcvirtually non-existent, ACO felt it was long categories, Medal of Honor, tional Officer Chad Yarborough, Union overdue our profession was recognized as Meritorious Service and Life SavCorrection Facility, Florida. an elite arm of law enforcement. Ask youring awards. The Medal of Honor Life Saving Award: Correctional self this question, where would our criminal award is also broken down into smaller Officer Daniel Callahan, Nassau County, justice system be without corrections? categories, the Bronze, Silver, Gold and NY. Honorable Mention; Correctional OfThere would be no system. We’re the end National awards. ficer Brian Dickhaut, Sousa- Baranowski of the line, the last stop, the final chance. This years recipients were: Facility, Shirley, Massachusetts. Sergeant Henry Ruiz (Morris County, National Medal of Honor: CorMeritorious Service Award: CorNJ), who chairs the Medal of Honor rectional Officer Elizabeth O’Campo, rectional Officer Jeremy Welch, Lansing Committee, told me the biggest problem Ironwood State Prison, CA. Correctional Facility, Lansing, Kansas. they had this year was the volume of Gold Medal of Honor: Lieutenant Honorable Mention; Correctional Ofnominations received for these honors. Patrick Matzen, Sergeant Mike Slanficers Nellie Ford and Annie With over 2.1 million inmates and 400,000 kard, Sergeant Umberto Silva, Jr., and Brown, Washington, DC. officers there are lots of stories needing Correctional Officer Steve Cacciola from If you would like information and to be told about the heroic efforts of the the California Correctional Institute, posters for next years awards contact officers who toil behind the walls of our Tehachapi, CA. nations prisons, jails and juvenile detention Silver Medal of Honor: Correctional me at ACOIN1@aol.com and as soon as the packets are prepared we’ll get facilities every day. What the ACO needed, Officer Richard Morales, Sousa-Baaccording to Chairman Ruiz, were not ranowski Facility, Shirley, Massachusetts. them out to you. The Heroes T * Brian Dawe is the Executive Director for The American Correctional Officer (www.americanco.org) and the American Correctional Officers Intelligence Network (www.COIntel.net). He can be reached at ACOIN1@aol.com or by calling him at 307-883-9707. 18 WWW.AMERICANCOPMAGAZINE.COM • MARCH/APRIL 2009