The Honor Behind the Guard – Michael Hire
Hello, my name is Michael Hire. I started my career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) in 2000 at the age of 25 as a Corrections Officer at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution (CCI) in Chillicothe, OH. By this time, I was already in my 7th year with the Ohio Army National Guard […]
Honoring Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo
CPOF Honor Guard Stands in Service for a Fallen Brother When the call comes that one of our own has fallen, the corrections family responds in the only way it knows how—together. Recently, members of the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation Honor Guard traveled to Tennessee to stand in quiet support of the Tennessee Department of […]
Honoring 15 Years of Remembrance: District Administrator Debra Kay Collins
End of Watch: March 4, 2011 On March 4, 2026, we mark the 15th anniversary of the passing of Debra Kay Collins, District Administrator with the Missouri Department of Corrections, Board of Probation and Parole. Administrator Collins was killed in an automobile crash on U.S. 67 near Fredericktown, Missouri, while traveling to Poplar Bluff for […]
Honoring 55 Years of Remembrance: Correctional Officer Robert J. McCarthy
End of Watch: March 4, 1971 On March 4, 2026, we mark the 55th anniversary of the line-of-duty death of Robert J. McCarthy, a Correctional Officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, assigned to the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, California. At 11:15 p.m. on March 4, 1971, during the nightly headcount in […]
When the unexpected happens, we stand ready.
Correctional Officer III Brenita Tillman of Anson Correctional Institution in North Carolina recently faced a life-threatening medical crisis. After experiencing altered mental status and respiratory failure, Brenita was diagnosed with cerebral edema and a mass requiring neurosurgery and oncology care. She was later discharged to rehabilitation on October 25, 2025, where her recovery journey continues. […]
Standing Beside Our Own: Supporting Officer Carolyn Khalfani Through Our Catastrophic Assistance Program
When tragedy strikes, the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation stands ready to do what we have always done — respond with compassion, urgency, and unwavering support. In February 2026, Correctional Officer Carolyn Khalfani of Lancaster Correctional Institution in Florida experienced the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Mr. Akil Abdu Khalfani, who passed away at home on […]
Honoring Correctional Officer Randy Glenn Arnold
The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation joins the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and the Rufus H. Duncan Unit in mourning the loss of Correctional Officer Randy Glenn Arnold, who passed away on December 20, 2025, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was 52 years old. Randy was born on February 10, 1973, in […]
Standing Beside Retired Officer Debra Shubin After Unimaginable Loss
At the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, we often say that once you are part of this profession, you are family for life. Recently, CPOF had the privilege of standing beside Retired Correctional Officer Debra Shubin, who served at California Men’s Colony, during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. Debra previously experienced profound […]
Standing Beside Correctional Officer Daniel Castro and His Family
At the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, our mission is simple and unwavering: Taking Care of Our Own. In December 2025, Correctional Officer Daniel Castro of Sierra Conservation Center received life-altering news. Daniel was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery on December 15, 2025. He remained hospitalized for one week, from December 15 through […]
Membership Matters: Strengthening Our Mission, Together
At the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation (CPOF), membership is more than a number—it is a promise. It is a promise that when tragedy strikes, no correctional professional or family will stand alone. It is a promise that those who serve behind the walls will be remembered, honored, and supported. And it is a promise that […]
CPO Family Magazine
View current and past issues of the CPO Family Magazine and see the work we’re doing to support our members and their families.
Fallen But Not Forgotten
View the stories of our brothers and sisters who sacrificed their lives while fulfilling the duties of their chosen profession.
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