Just a bit down

[imjin138]

Today was my last day at the prison I have worked at for the past 20 years or so. They had a pot luck for me we spoke of old times and staff and inmates. We laughed and shook hands and hugged, I was saddened leaving. It felt wierd leaving for the last time. I have reasons for leaving some personal, I start my new post on Monday at 7am.

It is in Milwaukee in an inner city and I will be the only supervisor there, other than the Superintendent. I did see them interviewing those who might replace me. I will be feeling better by next week when I am at work just tonight I am remembering.

 

[rags]

I've never been in prison but often thought that if I were, it would be great to get out!!

Sounds like you fit in well there and made a huge difference. 20 years is a long time. You were well liked and your new colleges will be happy to have you.

rags

 

[Erich]

Must be difficult in a lot of ways. Congratulations on leaving with those feelings, though - means you did it right. Here's wishing you a good time at the next stop.

 

[m657]

I retired several years ago and have had great joy in "not going to the office".....

A tenant just leased my building and moved in yesterday.....now I have a new condition to adapt to....."not having an office to not go to"....

yes, it was a little bitter sweet...but that was yesterday, today I'm going to the bank!!!!

 

[mgjohn]

Think happy thoughts!!! Remember all those at the prison that cannot leave when they want to. :>)

 

[charlie sherrill]

I've been around jails and prisons for a long time. I was the guy who left you the problem to deal with. We got them off the streets and locked them up for you to look after. As soon as we came through the jailhouse door our problem was over and we went to look for new problems and your problems began. We got to go get the discounts at the restaurants and coffee houses while you were stuck in the jail dealing with the idiots and violent people we left there. Every hour you spent in the jail was almost as miserable as an hour a inmate spent there. You were just as confined. At least you got to go home after a shift, only to return to your own confinement with the noise, filth, golden showers, and exposure to the most contagious diseases in the country. You probably were paid less than us, which isn't much at all, because you weren't a front line guy. But, you had to put up with just as much as us, and more, and you had to go by the same rules as us that prevented you from giving that deserved *** kicking to that human excrement that we left at your booking desk. To do this for 20 years requires the patience of Job. My hat is off to you sir, and I wish you happiness in your new position.

 

[E Z MUNNY]

I retired from the DOC here in WI about 3 years ago but I was in the main office (BTM), not in a prison. I don't think I could work where you do - my congratulations to you and everyone else who works 'inside'.

 

[bobcat]

I worked 6 months in a county jail prior to joining the Fed, hat's off to anyone who can survive 20 years working in a prison, good luck on your next job and take care...

 

[Bert Man]

just a bit down

I salute you Sir, it takes a special person to deal with the dregs of society that I sent to you over almost 30 years in law enforcement, so you ARE a special person and a better man than me. Don't think I could do it. Wishing great satisfaction in your new endeavor.

 

[27145]

Do you have to wear one of those electronic bracelets?

 

[TACC1]

Look at this move as an adventure. And when your new staff find out that you didn't come to single them out for whatever, things'll
straighten out fast. The bad parts of any employment are mitigated by
the people you share them with. Even the worst jobs I've done were
easy to deal with when shared.
I bet you'll be settled-in properly by the end of the second week.
If you're still having problems by then, PM me, and I'll bring the
beer and chips. TACC1

 

[badguybuster]

You lasted 20 years working in the penal system. CONGRATS!!! Be proud

 

[Maximumbob54]

I went to an interview once for a position with a facility in Lake City, FL and had to very politely decline during the interview. The conditions I was described are a perfect match for how Charlie Sherrill described above. I have no idea how you did it for that long. I can only hope that I someday have a job for that long that I regret leaving behind as much as you do. Right now I can’t wait to move along. All the same, congratulations on your new position and I hope you the best of times there.

 

[imjin138]

I appreciate the comments, I changed duty stations many times while in the Army and felt the same way. I transfered because it will be a Monday thru Friday 1st shift job. Which is better than working the releif job I had.

A lot of Wisconsin state employees are retireing this month, due to changes in the system. I have a bout 7 to 10 years yet before I will be ready to do that. They also closed alot of the juvinile prisons in Wisconsin, so there were a lot of what is called "at risk " employees. I spoke to my new boss and the warden and rather than bring in an unexperienced person to supervise both inmates and staff at the my new job they prefered an experienced captain. I felt a bit better that they considered me, I will do my best there to make sure it runs smoothly.

The new person will take my spot and will have my former peers to help train them after they graduate from the academy, my staff the sergeants and officers were good for the most part as in any organization you get to know who to depend upon.


Fortunately my new Boss has already E-mailed me a project to peruse over the weekend for Monday morning.

I will make the most of it and consider it just a new adventure in my life.

 

[moonclip]

Thank you Stan. Stay safe.

......moon

 

[Joeygun]

Congratulations and best wishes

Imjin,

I'll take this opportunity to wish you the best. Charlie Sherrill described it perfectly. I have also dropped off my problems for the past 12 years and driven away happily. You work a tougher beat and for less dough from what I have been told. Stay safe, and look at this as both a chapter closing and a new chapter starting. You'll be fine, and we'll all be better because of you.

Who were you with on the Imjin? When? I was with A-1/506th 94-95...love to chat that up sometime....

Again, congrats and STAY SAFE
Joeygun

 

[hobby-gunsmith]

DOC retirement

Good luck Stan on your retirement. I retired Lientenant 5 years ago from the State of Florida DOC. After 13 years in N.J. and 10.5 years in Florida, it was time to pull the plug. I was at social security age and the retirement benefits were great. The Department was torn between political factors and the good old boy system. Today, it is even worst and the new Governor has made it hell for the State employees. The PBA warned us not to vote for him. Well, now he is closing two state prisons and reducing a great many benefits that we worked for as State employees and high risk conditions. Most Law Enforcement personnel would not work at any prisons because of the conditions. How Ironic it is when the inmates are not the problem but the higher-ups are the problem. As you know, if you treat the inmate with respect, they will give you the same in return. Even though they are incarcerated, they are still human beings. I have stood by those principles and the inmates respect you when you are the same every day and not changeable from day to day. They know you are consistant and respect you for honesty. Enjoy the good life of retirement and stay safe.

Nick

 

[venomballistics]

go fly a kite ...
seriously git yourself down to any store that sells any manor of kite and put one or two in the air.
cheap, simple and therapeutic.
While it does nothing for the problems in your world .. it does wonders for the ones in your head .. which in turn leaves you better equipped to work your world based problems

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Change is sad, frightening and exciting all at the same time. The longer I do this stuff, the more convinced I am that the work done at the bottom of the pyramid so to speak is so far more important than anything else. I respect so much the street cops, the jailers, the clerk of court staff, in short the people who do the work that lets Judges, lawyers, elected officials, and other "important" people bask in their "importance". It is truly humbling to see these good people at work every day without complaint doing the right thing for the right rason, raising their families, and just being good people.
You couldn't pay me enough money to work in a prison and I salute you for doing it for 20 years, because if you didn't-who would???????

 

[David LaPell]

As a fellow CO (7 years two months and counting) I know that it is tough to make a difference inside. I remember about 4 years ago trying to get more gang intelligence with the county, nope we have our own people. Several other issues like that. Here in NY our retirement is 25 years so I have a long way to go. The best part is that you can proud to say you have been part of one of the hardest jobs in law enforcement. You can say you're going to heaven now because you did your time in hell.

 

[Ethang]

Stan congrats and thank you. It does take a special person to be in this business but even more so from your end.

Charlie, very well said.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

How Ironic it is when the inmates are not the problem but the higher-ups are the problem. As you know, if you treat the inmate with respect, they will give you the same in return. Even though they are incarcerated, they are still human beings. I have stood by those principles and the inmates respect you when you are the same every day and not changeable from day to day. They know you are consistant and respect you for honesty.

Very interesting. My son used to say the same thing, and he just retired from a Sheriff's Department in FL after a career in "Corrections." He did have a few incidents, occasions to use his martial arts training, had a couple of lawsuits which the judge laughed out of court, but he still regarded the bureaucracy as the bigger problem. Spoke the same way as you about the inmates. Of course, he was at a jail, not a prison, but there are surely some similarities.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Go to Greenfield News and Hobby and treat yourself one of the obscure gun magazines from Europe that they always seemed to carry (or even Military Illustrated from the UK) along with a nice package of classic toy soldiers to shoot rubber bands at, and then have a meal with far too many calories at Omega on 27th Street (always open, had Christmas dinner there once... that's sort of depressing come to think of it) and maybe squeeze in the free Miller brewery tour. Three free beers but tragically only one bag of pretzels, but you can take the tour as many times a day as you want. If there's time, get a delightful Jumbo Bacon Butterburger deluxe and a triple serving frozen custard before calling it a day.

If those things don't make a man look forward to the Milwaukee area, nothing will. Solemn nod.

 

[imjin138]

I will be on HWY 43 and Keefe ave. I have been to the Omega not a bad place to eat. Usually got to Gander Mountain Early. Will try the greenfield place.

Glad to see you back Gator, you'll have to stop by for a tour.