February 9, 2018
W.Va. corrections employees honored during recognition day at
the Legislature
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Military Affairs and Public Safety Secretary Jeff Sandy
honored nine correctional officers, support staff members and other employees
Friday to mark Corrections Day at the Legislature.
The nine are the inaugural recipients of the Secretary’s
Freedom Award, which recognizes dedication, perseverance and above-and-beyond
service in the line of duty within the Division of Corrections, Regional Jail
Authority and Division of Corrections.
“These nine are outstanding examples of the men and women who
work so hard to keep us safe and further the ends of justice,” said Secretary
Sandy.
The 2018 session of the Legislature is a significant one for
DMAPS. Governor Justice has championed substantial pay raises for correctional
officers and staff as part of his agenda. DMAPS has also developed a
comprehensive plan to consolidate, improve and modernize the three correctional
agencies.
The honorees also took part in the Senate and House of
Delegates floor sessions, with legislators in each chamber adopting a
resolution for Corrections Day. Officer Mackall was presented the House
citation by Speaker Armstead, and Officer Jenkins received the Senate citation
from President Carmichael.
Recipients of the Secretary’s Freedom Award for Distinguished
Service:
Category: Correctional Officer
Jeremiah Lee Jenkins, Correctional Officer I, Division of
Corrections, for
quickly responding to and resolving an inmate-on-officer assault at the
Northern Correctional Center last month.
Category: Community-Based Employee
Robin Mauck, Corrections Program Specialist, Division of
Juvenile Services, for her leadership at the Youth Reporting Centers in
Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
Category: Facility Warden, Administrator or Director
Jeremy Dolin, Facility Director, Division of Juvenile
Services,
for leading a team from his facility in response to a staffing shortage at
another facility over the Memorial Day 2017 weekend.
Category: Support Staff, Central Office Headquarters
Kimberly Wilson, Administrative Services Assistant III,
Regional Jail Authority, for implementing improvement that have helped RJA collect
more than $500,000 in past-due debts.
Category: Field Support Staff
Domenico Esposito, Field Training Officer, Division of
Juvenile Services, for routinely going above and beyond at the Vicki V. Douglas
Juvenile Center by volunteering for difficult assignments, building positive
relationships with the community, and donating countless hours of his personal
time to improve the facility.
Category: Investigations
Curtis Dixon, Corrections Investigator III, DMAPS
Investigations Unit, for his bulldog tenacity that uncovered an extensive and
dangerous contraband smuggling scheme at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex.
Dixon’s five-month investigation led to felony charges against a lieutenant at
the state’s maximum-security prison.
Category: Parole Officer
Bryan Thompson, Enhanced Supervision Parole Officer, for assisting in
multiple escapees and absconders captures while becoming a go-to officer for
fugitive operations by law enforcement.
Category: Special Operations
Sgt. Wesley Williams, Correctional Officer, Division of
Corrections, for helping to rescue a domestic violence victim and facilitate
the arrest of her assailant while supervising an inmate road work crew.
Category: Special Recognition - “Gung Ho” Award
Larissa Mackall, Correctional Officer II, Division of
Juvenile Services, for unfailingly reporting to duty at the most
staff-challenged facility in the system while facing and overcoming numerous
personal hardships.