Proclamation declares 'National Correctional Employees Week'

PORTALES — In their meeting Tuesday morning, Roosevelt County commissioners got a hands-on, abstract illustration of the sort of work correctional officers do at the local detention center.

Roosevelt County Jail Administrator Justin Porter stood beside three detention officers while presenting to the commission on a proclamation declaring the first full week of next month as “National Correctional Employees Week.”

The officers passed out individual bottles of soda to the commissioners and county staff, with Porter asking each person to think of something that makes them mad, shake the bottle twice and then pass it down the line. There were no volunteers to start drinking soda.

The potential energy of a shaken plastic pop bottle reflects the understandably agitated condition of detainees, newly incarcerated, that correction officers still must handle with courtesy and humanity. Porter then held up a glass bottle of soda as an illustration of a “mental health inmate” requiring more care and different tools. He then hoisted a two-liter bottle and shook it up to reflect general conditions inside a jail.

Commissioners approved the proclamation, which recognizes the “essential role” of the county jail’s 32 members.

“...the general public should fully appreciate correctional employees’ capable handling of the physical and emotional demands made upon them daily,” said the proclamation. “Their profession requires careful and constant vigilance, and the threat of violence is always present. At the same time, these dedicated employees try to improve the living conditions of those who are being confined.”

Porter said this month marks just over two years since he became jail administrator, and that he was proud to note there were zero major incidents there in the past year.

Also at Tuesday’s commission meeting, with all votes unanimous and commissioner Matthew Hunton absent:

• Presentation from representatives of the Eastern Plains Council of Governments, requesting the county’s “continued participation and membership” for the next fiscal year. Membership entails over $3,500 in annual dues and the appointment of a voting representative and alternate. The county was previously a member in 2014, said county manager Amber Hamilton, and has until July 1 to make a decision on continuing. The commission voted on bringing the matter to a resolution at its next meeting.

• Approval of contracts for communication services with Yucca Telecom and “telecommunications and utility accounts” with Troy & Banks consultants.

• Approval of fiscal year 2020 county fire protection fund applications from the volunteer fire departments of Arch and Milnesand for the purchase of a brush truck and Class A pumper, respectively.

• Approval of the closure of four-tenths of a mile of North Roosevelt Road AK between NRR 2/12 and NRR 3.

• No action following an executive session of over an hour, during which commissioners discussed “limited personnel matters and ... attorney-client privileged information pertaining to threatened or pending litigation.”