Jail staffers deserve thanks
County fully committed to continued progress at MDC
I’m deeply saddened after watching the recent prison tragedy unfold at Delaware’s Vaughn Correctional Facility.
Delaware corrections officer Lt. Steven Floyd Sr. was found dead Feb. 2 after authorities ended an 19-hour hostage situation. Lt. Floyd was a family man and a veteran officer who served his community honorably.
On behalf of Bernalillo County, I extend my sincere condolences to Lt. Floyd’s family and the many people impacted by this tragedy. This underscores the fact that prisons and jails are a tough place to work, and, as county manager, I’m committed to doing what’s right by continuing our ongoing efforts to support a work environment at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) that protects our staff and inmates.
Jails and detentions centers are out-of-sight, out-of-mind for many in our community. However, when an unfortunate tragedy or incident occurs, the general public is hopefully reminded of the crucial role that corrections officers and the corrections industry has in our criminal justice system.
Being a corrections officer is often a thankless job because more people just aren’t aware of how multifaceted and difficult the job is. Being a corrections officer isn’t for everyone. Our corrections officers staff the morning, evening and night shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Thankfully, our officers are trained as jail first responders, ready to manage any situation that might come up. Every hour of every day, they encounter inmates with a number of issues that need to be addressed, including mental illness, substance abuse, addiction, medical needs, and behavioral misconduct that can escalate to violence if the inmate is not proactively managed with good communication skills and the appropriate use of force when necessary.
Our corrections officers, medical professionals, education staff, administrators and others who work at the jail provide a critical public service to the community and I want them to know their good work does not go unnoticed.
I’m especially appreciative of the progress we’re making at the MDC. By partnering with other entities in the criminal justice system, MDC is providing service to the community by developing new projects and repurposing existing programs that keep the jail population low and reduce the number of inmates returning to jail over and over again.
The county’s focus on behavioral health and filling needed gaps in the current system is creating a stronger safety net for inmates who leave jail and provides access to resources that help people stabilize as they try to rebuild their lives, one day at a time.
All of this is a work in progress. But working together as a team, we can continue to accomplish clear goals that support the jail’s mission and meet the community’s expectations of doing our jobs well in a fiscally responsible manner.
To corrections officers and all the MDC employees who give their very best every day — again, as your county manager, I want you to know that you are valued and appreciated for all that you do. Let’s keep the momentum moving forward.