New officer explains important role of correctional staff
Gizelle Porter didn’t always know the direction she wanted to take her career in.
After completing the Lori Gidley Academy Class, she takes pride in her new role as a corrections officer.
“I knew from experience that it was a great career choice,” said Porter, whose mother and grandfather were both corrections officers. “I know that working for the department of corrections is a life-long career. It’s something to be proud of. You get to put on a uniform and you’re an officer of the law.”
Porter, who will be working at Michigan Reformatory, said her time in the academy taught her that prison isn’t about punishment, it’s about rehabilitation.
“It’s about making sure they come back out to our communities as productive citizens,” Porter said. “They’re going to be living in our neighborhoods and we want them to come out with a better mindset. “I’m excited to get in there and make a difference.”
She said she would tell new recruits who come after her to work hard, take the academy seriously and be proud to put on the uniform each day.
“We’re not prison guards, we’re corrections officers and we set an example, not just for inmates, but for society,” Porter said. “We have to have pride in ourselves and honor our organization because we can change the way people look at us. We’re officers that play an equally important role as officers on the street.”
Michigan Department of Corrections welcomes more than 130 new officers
The Michigan Department of Corrections welcomed more than 130 new recruits following their graduation from the Lori Gidley Academy Class.
Ceremonies were held in Lansing and at Lake Superior State University. Officers completed eight weeks of classroom instruction and will now start work at their assigned facilities for eight weeks of on-the-job training.
The graduation ceremonies included remarks from MDOC Director Heidi Washington and class namesake Lori Gidley.
Graduates also received awards for academic achievement and personal conduct. New recruits who were veterans of the Armed Forces, were also recognized for their service.
Award winners included:
Aman Thaper — Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Corrina Davis — Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility
Travis Ward — Michigan Reformatory
Casey Smith — Ionia Correctional Facility
Paul Brown — Chippewa Correctional Facility
Heather Lipponen — Chippewa Correctional Facility
Karl Perron — Chippewa Correctional Facility
