There are many facets of law enforcement that provide a service to the public. One that that doesn’t get a lot of credit for the important work they do are the correctional officers that work the jails and prisons around the country who oversee inmates in their custody.

At the May 5 meeting of the Wright County Board of Commissioners, Captain Patrick O’Malley of the Wright County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division came before the board with a resolution proclaiming this week as Correctional Officers and Employee Week in Wright County.

O’Malley explained that the annual proclamation has been in place for more than 35 years and honors those who work behind the scenes to see that sentences are served and that inmates find rehabilitation opportunities to return to society when they’re ready for release.

“On May 5, 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first full week of May as National Correctional Officers Week,” O’Malley said. “Today I’m here asking you for a resolution from the board proclaiming May 3-9, 2020 as Correctional Officer and Employee Week in Wright County.”

O’Malley then read the resolution, which stated:

WHEREAS, correctional officers are trained law enforcement professionals dedicated to maintaining a safe correctional facility and ensuring the public safety; and

WHEREAS, correctional officers are essential to the success of our criminal justice process; and

WHEREAS, correctional officers work includes daily exposure in a hostile environment with some of the most dangerous individuals in society; and

WHEREAS, correctional officers and employees provide offenders with direction, hope and a new focus while assisting with reentry and life outside corrections; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Wright County Board of Commissioners, do hereby acknowledge the week of May 3-9, 2020 as “Correctional Officers and Employee Week” in honor of the dedicated professionals who serve the citizens of Wright County by supervising the County’s inmate population.

Board Chair Christine Husom, who spent a good portion of her professional career in law enforcement, thanked O’Malley and all the Wright County Corrections staff for the difficult jobs they do without much fanfare.

“I’m happy always to see this every year and to recognize their efforts because it is a very tough job,” Husom said.