Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the deadly tornado in Oklahoma. If you are a Correctional Officer with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and are in need of assistance, please contact your Warden’s office so we can begin the assisting process.
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“Marathon County Jail inmates stood by, watched and chanted as 20-year-old inmate Fredrick Morris raised his clenched fist and drove it into Corrections Officer Julie Christensen’s head March 27.”
Officials: Inmates chanted ‘Hope she dies’ during jail attack (with video)
Prosecutors push for death penalty for Corrections Officer’s killer
“For the first time, the family of slain Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl’s family is speaking as prosecutors try to put her killer, Byron Scherf to death.”
http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/prosecutors-push-death-penalty-corrections-officer/nXqT4/
This week is National Correctional Officers Week!
Thank you all for your dedicated service, this week, and every other one.
Check out the link below for President Reagan’s original proclamation.
Correctional officer fights for life after being shot in the head
Unclear if the off-duty officer was the victim of random violence or targeted
COLTON (CBSLA.com) — A California Department of Corrections officer is fighting for his life after reportedly being shot in the head Thursday evening in Colton.
Tom Dennie, 52, was shot multiple times while pumping gas at a Shell station.
PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL EVENTS IN MAY HONOR FALLEN OFFICERS – Nevada
May 12-19, 2013 is National Police Week where peace officers honor their fallen as well as those survivors of critical incidents. Local memorial events are held earlier and scheduled for May 2 in Carson City at the Capitol complex at noon and May 3rd at 10 AM at the Hoff Peace Officer Memorial at Idlewild Park in Reno.
This May in Washington DC, seven Nevada names will be added to the memorial. Family members are recognized for their loss and meet with various officials, often the President.
Nevada Correctional Officer Terry Hardin died in January 2012 after being assaulted by a prisoner at High Desert State Prison in Southern Nevada. He was honored in 2012 and placed on local memorials but will be enshrined in DC this year.
Elko County Deputy Denny V. Lawrence was shot in the head in 1982 near the Idaho border on what seemed to be a routine traffic accident. As a result he was institutionalized until he passed away in January, 2012.
Washoe County Sheriff’s Lt Glenn Barnes died on duty while doing a mandatory physical fitness test in March, 1991.
Carson City Police Officer Vernon Brooks Carvin died 10-31-1949 of a heart attack after a struggle with a violent prisoner. His was the only recorded line of duty death for the Carson City Police Department which has now consolidated with the Sheriff’s Department.
Ely City Marshall Ernest E. Campbell was killed 12-19-1926 as a pedestrian in a bizarre auto accident where debris from the wreck went airborne and struck the Marshall.
Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff John J. Monaghan was shot and killed 6-20-1906 by a mob of protesting workers in Caliente.
Less than two years after Nevada gained statehood, Lincoln County Sheriff George Rogers was shot and killed by Indians 03-01-1866.
However his is not the oldest case being recognized nationwide, the oldest dating to 1814 that being a Customs Inspector. The oldest recorded law enforcement line of duty death was 1791. Nevada oldest dates to 1861 with the murder of Carson Sheriff Blackburn.
Many may recall that 2013 has been a terrible year for California Law Enforcement especially in view of the rampage by the former LAPD officer. Through April there are seven names of 2013 California officers. However in 2012 only two will be added to the memorial. While each loss is tragic, it is perhaps a record low for California.
Nationally there will be 312 names added, 120 from 2012 and 201 from prior years. This brings the total on the national wall to 19,981.
Article by Sgt Jeff Church, Retired from the Reno Police Department. Article is not copyrighted and may be reproduced. Info: Renocop@earthlink.net
PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL EVENTS IN MAY HONOR FALLEN OFFICERS – California
May 12-19, 2013 is National Police Week where peace officers honor their fallen as well as those survivors of critical incidents. California events are scheduled for May 5-6 in Sacramento. Local agencies will hold various other services. President Kennedy established May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Nationally there will be 312 names added, 120 from 2012 and 201 from prior years. This brings the total on the national wall to 19,981.
Nevada will be adding a sheriff killed in 1866 by Indians however his is not the oldest case being recognized nationwide, the oldest dating to 1814 that being a Customs Inspector. The oldest recorded law enforcement line of duty death was 1791. California’s oldest recorded duty death was the Sacramento Sheriff in 1850. This year’s oldest California addition is Police Officer John Sheldon of Sonora who was stabbed to death. Less than four months later the perpetrators were executed!
The two 2012 officers to be honored are Kenyon Marc Youngstrom of the California Highway Patrol, died from gunshot wounds 09/05/2012 and Robert Lee Paris Jr. of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, shot and killed 4/12/2012. There will be a total of 16 California peace officers added this year in Washington DC.
Many may recall that 2013 has been a terrible year for California Law Enforcement especially in view of the rampage by the former LAPD officer. Through mid-April there are seven names of 2013 California officers. While each loss is tragic, the two additions for 2012 are perhaps a record low for California.
However this is not the end of the story, like the 201 added this year from years past, there are dozens of cases still being researched. In some cases, the host department has shown little interest in honoring the fallen. In other cases the department no longer exists.
Michigan railroad detectives Vreeland and Cook were shot and killed in 1911 (33 S.Ct. 192 57 L.Ed. 417) near Detroit. Their case went to the US Supreme Court so it is certainly documented yet no one has stepped forward to honor them. Their agency is long gone.
In California we know of Deputy Eugene Reardon of Yuba County Sheriff’s Department who was shot and killed 100 years ago in 1913. He was honored on the California memorial but still not nationally.
Despite the efforts of Lassen County, Deputy Bogart remains off the national memorial but will be added in Sacramento this May. He was shot and killed in 1915. They did name a rest stop after him but apparently misspelled his name!
We recently discovered a case hiding in plain sight in Mono County. A deputy and posse were hunting Nevada prison escapees in 1871 near Benton when they were ambushed. Apparently two posse members were killed; Robert Morrison and a guide known as Indian Mono Joe. As a result the lake was named Convict Lake and a nearby mountain as Mt Morrison yet they remained unknown to the memorials. Their case is well documented on the internet- hiding in plain sight! Mono County is working this case.
Also in plain sight is a well-known song called “Deportee” about a 1948 plane crash near Los Gatos. On the aircraft was INS employee Frank Chafin. One issue is verifying the person has law enforcement powers to be eligible, often a tricky call.
Other reports show officers gravely wounded but then the trail goes cold. Sometimes the death is much later and in cold cases it can be difficult to track and document.
We’ll never be able to identify all fallen officers from the past but it is rewarding to bring as many as possible to light and get them the recognition they deserve.
Article by Sgt Jeff Church, Retired from the Reno Police Department. Article is not copyrighted and may be reproduced. Any persons interested in assisting with research are encouraged to contact the author. Info: Renocop@earthlink.net
Prison union calls for more officers
“Federal prisons are understaffed, overcrowded and exceedingly violent, according to union leaders, correctional officers and government auditors.”
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/prison-union-calls-for-more-officers-1.1481280
Correctional officer wellness: Guarding against the silent killer
Stress for the correctional officer comes in many forms.
Recent reports indicate correctional officer suicides are at an all time high. The idea that ‘doing time’ is taking a toll seems to ring true. But what is it about working behind the walls that is taking such a toll? The answer appears to be stress, eroding resilience, and inadequate coping skills. Ineffectively managing stress has been linked to relationship issues, substance abuse, disease, and even death.
Colleagues say goodbye to correctional officer who died in on-duty crash
Warden: “We have a great hole in our department today”
Hundreds gathered at a Riverside church to say goodbye to a state correctional officer who was killed in an on-duty car wreck.
Sgt. Gilbert Cortez, 47, died March 25 with his police dog, Mattie, on the way to conduct a contraband inspection in San Diego County.