Correctional Officers' Week May 6-12th
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| Mesa County Board of Commissioners proclaim this week Correctional Officers' Week |
Sheriff Matt Lewis and Captain Art Smith joined the Mesa County Board
of Commissioners in recognizing the professionalism and dedication of our
detention deputies and staff during National Correctional Officers Week. May
6-12th.
In 1984, President Ronald
Reagan created National Correctional Officers Week to honor the work of
correctional officers and correctional personnel nationwide. In Mesa County,
this group of professionals are known as detention deputies.
Local jails, like the Mesa
County Detention Facility, are complex organizations. On a basic level, a jail
must provide its inmate population a number of services, including three meals
a day, medical and mental health care, clothing and linens, visitation, recreation, religious programs, as well as
access to courts and attorneys. Complicating this task is the diversity of
needs within the increasing inmate population while maintaining the safety and
security of the 24-hour facility. In 2017, the Mesa County Detention Facility
processed 6,465 people and provided more than 630,000 meals. On March 18, 2018
the Mesa County Detention Facility housed a record high 604 inmates.
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| Deputy Edward Innes EOW 9/27/1906 |
“Our detention deputies and
staff play a critical role in keeping the detention facility and our community
safe,” said Capt. Art Smith. “They do a difficult job that not a lot of people
want to do nor have the compassion to do. That’s why it’s important for us to
stop and say ‘Thank You.’”
Being a detention officer can
be a dangerous job. The names of 707 correctional officers are engraved on the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. One of those names is Deputy Edward
Innes, who was killed by an inmate escaping the jail in 1906. A wreath first
displayed in the Mesa County Sheriff's Office lobby, will be placed on Innes'
grave this week to honor and remember his sacrifice.
Please join us in thanking
all detentions professionals for not only what they do, but more importantly
the personal sacrifices they make to ensure our community remains a safe place
to live, work and play.
