By Tracy Harmon
The Pueblo Chieftain
CANON CITY — A corrections chief who was murdered in the midst of major overhauls to the prison system was remembered Saturday as a great believer in redemption.
The state’s dignitaries — led by Gov. John Hickenlooper — gathered at the Fallen Officers Memorial at Territorial Prison to commemorate Tom Clements, who was murdered a year ago by a troubled parolee. Clements name has been added to a memorial wall — as the 16th corrections employee to die in the line of duty.
“His world was filled with people who are reminders of the worst people are capable of, yet he maintained honor. He was a great believer in redemption — that people could better themselves,” Hickenlooper told family, friends and co-workers of Clements who gathered on a cold, dreary morning to remember Clements.
“He saw there were challenges with administrative segregation and the parole system, and instead of accepting the status quo and pretending everything was OK, he worked to change it.”
Clements successor Rick Raemisch said the department’s employees will continue to carry on Clements’ work.
“He was a reformist and a progressive. Today we memorialize a hero. Everyone remembers how he died but more importantly, we should remember how he lived,” Raemisch said.
State Chief of Staff Roxane White shed tears as she recalled her friend. She remembered a painful meeting with the Las Animas community as preparations were being made to close the Fort Lyon prison.
“As we drove away he said to me every single person has to have a job — we can’t just lay people off. He said we need to find a way to use the space and use it well,” White said.
Today the prison is used to house homeless vets and help them get back on their feet.
“I think he would be happy how we use Fort Lyon to continue to improve lives,” White said.
Raemisch said corrections workers this week will remember Clements. A Tom Clements award will be given to a line staff member who best exemplifies Clements’ mission by working with offenders and helping them make a successful re-entry into the community.