Local correctional officers recognized by commission

BERNALILLO — Sandoval County Detention Center correctional officers were recently recognized with a proclamation by the Sandoval County Board of Commissioners designating National Correctional Officers Week.

Commissioner and Vice Chair Jordan Juarez presented the proclamation at the commissioners’ regular meeting May 14, designating May 5-11 as National Correctional Officers Week.

Juarez read the proclamation, which stated in part that correctional officers and employees deserve recognition for their service “as they teach, train, mentor, counsel and treat inmates” and provide them with “direction, hope and a new focus while assisting with re-entry and life outside corrections.”

“Correctional officers and employees should be recognized for managing inmates who are convicted of crimes or protecting them as they wait to be tried or convicted criminals while simultaneously protecting themselves and the community at large,” Juarez read.

He added that corrections officers deal with a diverse group of individuals — some of them violent and posing challenges on the officers’ mental health.

SCDC’s Warden Gilbert Armendariz thanked the commission for the recognition and said his staff are the ones who deserve the praise.

“They’re the true boots on the ground, to be honest with you,” he said.

He added that it’s very much a team effort to run the detention center.

“We don’t do this for any recognition, but we appreciate the recognition,” Armendariz said.

The officers had a celebration the week before the proclamation recognized them, according to Armendariz. They had cake while still running shifts at the detention center.

The first full week in May was designated to honor correctional employees nationwide following former President Ronald Reagan’s signing of Proclamation 5187 in 1984.