By Frank Lewis
The Portsmouth Daily Times
PORTSMOUTH — The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction employees will celebrate Correctional Employee Recognition Week May 3-9. The annual event honors outstanding employees in the corrections profession.
The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) has selected correction officer Jeremy Eaches as the SOCF 2015 Correction Officer of the Year. Eaches began his career with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at SOCF as an officer in November of 2007. He has worked all posts on second shift and he is currently assigned as a relief officer.
In addition, Eaches serves in the U.S. Navy Reserves with the rank of E-5, and has completed a tour of duty in Iraq as a member of a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). He has served the U.S. in the military since 2007. Eaches is a 2000 graduate of Rock Hill High School. He is married and has two children and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, hunting and shooting guns.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction will host its annual Correction Officer of the Year Ceremony on Friday (May 1) at the Corrections Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. That event will recognize those employees who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Each corrections facility has selected a Correctional Officer of the Year to be represented at the ceremony.
The Lucasville facility will hold its 22nd annual memorial ceremony at SOCF on the front lawn Wednesday May 13 at noon. The event recognizes employees of SOCF who lost their lives in the line of duty. Those being remembered are Arthur Sprouse, Gary Underwood, Eric Bowling, Beverly Shoemaker Taylor, and Robert Vallandingham. Additional activities during Employee Appreciation Week include breakfast for employees on Monday and a Health and Safety Fair on Tuesday giving staff the opportunity to have cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure screenings.
Also on Friday (May 1) SOCF will have its annual Employee Appreciation banquet. In addition to recognizing the Correction Officer of the Year, they will recognize Employee of the Year, James Clark; Security Threat Group Team Member of the Year, Nicole Frederick; Public Information Team Member of the Year, Charles Smith; Hostage Negotiator of the Year, Pamela Creed; Crisis Responder of the Year, Justin Throckmorton and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team Member of the Year, Thomas Adkins.