Shouting Out All Corrections Officers in Central New York This Week

This week is a very special week to celebrate a group of professionals that catch nothing but hell when they get to work every day. That is the Corrections Officer. It is National Corrections Officer week and we can't thank them enough.

Whether an officer is tasked with guarding inmates in county jails or state prisons, there is never enough that can be done to thank them for this difficult profession. It takes a very specific type of person to literally get locked up with some of the worst criminals day after day, but they do it and don't complain about it.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office is honoring and celebrating Corrections Officers this week and you should to. There are some jobs that seem obvious, but there is a lot COs do that you may not know about. According to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office there is so much more to guarding inmates than just watching and they go through extensive training. Below is a list of just some of the topics covered during a CO's training.

• Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, and Corrections Law.
• Defensive Tactics
• Firearms, Impact Devices, Electronic Control Devices, and Chemical Agents
• Physical Training
• Report Writing
• Suicide Awareness and Prevention
• Communication Skills
• Critical Incident Management
• Emotionally Disturbed Persons
• Reality Based Training
• De-escalation

It's also true that part of the training is getting pepper sprayed as you can see in the photo above.

Not only is there a lot a Corrections Office needs to know, but there is a lot of risk in the job. Not only is it a dangerous job, but from what several State Corrections Officers say, there is a ton of liability as well. It has been implied that the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) cares more about the inmate than the employee of the prison.

Overall, this is a very dangerous job and in some cases a thankless one. So, we are taking the time this week to say THANK YOU SO MUCH. Keep fighting the good fight and stay safe.