By Gussie Fauntleroy
The Santa Fe New Mexican
SANTA FE, N.M. — Every correctional officer understands the importance of carefully searching for dangerous contraband in a high-risk prison facility. But not every officer is willing to crawl under prisoners’ bunks and dig into heater vents during every cell search to apply the level of attention such a task requires.
At the Penitentiary of New Mexico, Officer Archie Martinez is an exception to the norm, according to his supervisors. Martinez is described as “savvy and aware of (his) surroundings” and possessing a “proactive intellect for identifying potential problems.”
Deputy Warden Lawrence Jaramillo terms this degree of diligence “the Archie Martinez course of action” -- and it earned Martinez a Certificate of Excellence for 2009.
The award was one of several presented recently to penitentiary employees. The award for Custody Employee of the Year went to Correctional Officer Mary Ortega for her “self-driven hard working attitude and a sincere willingness to assist with any and all tasks.” Ortega was commended for offering suggestions for improvement and plans “to transform challenging visionary ideas to successful accomplishment,” according to Deputy Warden Jaramillo. Sergio Abila was recognized as Non-Custody Supervisor of the Year for his “expertise in all areas of the PNM infrastructure.” Jaramillo noted that Abila’s “ingenious brainstorming for resourceful solutions to problems, and (his) work to make the solutions a reality are impeccable.”
Non-Custody Employee of the Year was John Chumbley, who serves as fire, safety and sanitation officer for the penitentiary. Among other accomplishments, he was commended for updating and computerizing documentation required by the American Correctional Association. Chumbley also is a member of PNM’s snow-removal crew.
Capt. Adino Castillo and Lt. Joseph Pacheco shared the honor as co-recipients of Custody Supervisor of the Year. Castillo is operations director at the Level VI Facility, known as a “high-maintenance environment.” Pacheco is custody supervisor for the facility’s Housing Unit Three. The two officers were given “noble credit for (their) actions to suppress a violent and life-threatening incident.”
When a convicted murderer and gang member broke free while being escorted by a recreational officer, the prisoner removed his restraints and forcibly grabbed the officer’s keys. A series of increasingly dangerous events followed, leading to violence among rival gang members. Castillo and Pacheco “took quick and decisive action” to suppress and calm the situation. “As a result of your exemplary character I hold a high degree of confidence and respect for you and for your decisive judgment and abilities,” Jaramillo told the officers.
In the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, Senior Special Agent Daniel Tanaka of the Securities Division has been honored as the agency’s employee of the month. Working with colleagues in other states during the past few months, Tanaka helped develop securities-related criminal cases resulting in the arrest of five people. His nominators described him as a “model employee.”
Copyright 2009 The New Mexican