National Correctional Officers week observed

PORTALES — Within the Roosevelt County Detention Center community, correctional officers play multiple roles — from desk clerk to emergency medical providers.

This week will mark National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and facility auditor Shayla Ramsey said the work the RCDC staff does is worthy of recognition.

“I think that what I do is important, because I help train these guys to know the policy, to know what they’re supposed to be doing, to be knowledgeable in all aspects while they’re back there,” she said.

In the four years Ramsey has worked at the detention center, she has developed dual perspectives.

“I get to see what the detainees live through, and I get to see the outside world. I think it’s just opened my eyes a little bit more,” she said.

Shift Sgt. Drew Rance is responsible for ensuring the detention center runs smoothly on any given day, which he said is an extremely involved process.

“I check in on people, I do multiple rounds a day, I talk to people, I go around and check different aspects, physically, of the facility, and also talk to inmates, too,” he said.

Since beginning the job four years ago, Rance said he has learned to be a better communicator.

Having been an officer in charge for two years, Victoria Knowles has seen her life become more structured.

“It’s a lot of fun, I would say. Tough on some days but pretty good,” she said.

Detention centers function like autonomous cities, and many of the roles therein are played by corrections officers, according to RCDC Administrator Justin Porter.

“These guys are my everything. They do the social worker’s job; they have to respond as the firemen, initially, when something goes on. They’re first responders as first aid and everything until medical gets there. They’re really everything in this community,” he said.