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Salem-area employees recognized by Department of Corrections
The Oregon Department of Corrections honored outstanding employees at its annual state-wide awards ceremony in Salem this week.
Among those recognized were a number of employees based in Marion County:
Employee of the Year: Grace Narvaez
Narvaez was recognized for her outstanding customer service, initiative and attitude. She provides administrative support to employees in the department’s Information Services Unit.
Award of Valor: Paul Hames and John Tran
Officer Hames intervened in a serious inmate assault on a sergeant that occurred in an office on the yard at Oregon State Penitentiary. After controlling the inmate, he rendered assistance to the sergeant until medical help arrived.
Officer Tran responded when an inmate pushed down and repeatedly kicked a nurse in the penitentiary infirmary. Tran radioed for help and then wrestled the inmate to the floor and handcuffed him before others responded to the scene.
Contractor of the Year (two awards): Nancy Green and Dalke Construction
Green, of Chemeketa Community College, works under contract as education manager at Oregon State Penitentiary. She facilitated the return of the GED program to the penitentiary and worked diligently to have a computer lab installed in the classroom area. She also was involved in bringing the Inside Out college-prison exchange program to the penitentiary.
Ken Dalke and Dan Harrold of Dalke Construction were recognized for fast-tracking the conversion of a work area at the Oregon State Penitentiary Minimum Facility into an area for alcohol and drug treatment. Due to their team effort, the project was completed on time and within budget.
Community Corrections Outstanding Service Award: Rick Hattebert
Parole/Probation Officer Rick Hattebert works with the Department of Corrections on release plans for Marion County inmates. He conducts field investigations quickly, provides helpful feedback, and is a community corrections resource for staff in the prisons.
Outstanding Service Awards: Brian Bemus, Paul Hames, and John Foster
Bemus is the DOC’s authority on managing capacity issues, creating strategies to match the needs of various inmate populations with available housing options based on inmate population forecasts. He conducts staffing studies, research on special inmate populations, classification reviews and new system development. Bemus’ work and attitude were also recognized by Director Max Williams and Deputy Director Mitch Morrow, who awarded him a Director’s Award for his service to the agency.
Described as, “the epitome of what a correctional officer should be,” Hames was commended for being a positive influence on staff and inmates. He promotes the DOC’s Oregon Accountability Model with inmates by using social learning theory to role model, reinforce positive behaviors and redirect negative behaviors.
Foster is a lieutenant at Oregon State Correctional Institution, who was cited for his commitment to the DOC’s mission and his tireless work to maintain a safe and secure environment for staff, inmates and visitors. He is also active in the community, and is a long-time volunteer umpire with youth baseball.
Directors’ Awards: Brian Bemus, Randy Briones and Doug Young
The exceptional work quality and constructive approach to challenging issues demonstrated by Brian Bemus, who also won a department-wide Outstanding Service Award, were singled out for recognition by Director Max Williams and Deputy Director Mitch Morrow, who gave him a Director’s Award for his service to the agency.
Briones, the Transitional Services manager at Oregon State Correctional Institution in Salem, was recognized for his volunteer work managing the employee fitness center.
As DOC’s administrator in charge of new prison construction, Young was acknowledged for his work keeping new construction on time and within budget.
In commending the work of the award recipients, Director Williams said, “We are here to honor the truly outstanding work done by the Department staff and contractors, as well as some of the outstanding citizens of the state who have volunteered and helped us in achieving our mission.
“The mission of the Department of Corrections continues to be our focus: to promote public safety by holding offenders accountable for their actions, and reducing the risk of future criminal behavior.”
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