By Russ O’Reilly
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
EBENSBURG, Pa. — At the Cambria County Prison, no corrections officer or administrative team member has more experience than Capt. John Briel.
Briel, 54, began his career as a per-diem officer at the old Cambria County Jail in 1992, hired by then-Warden William Wolford, the father of current Warden Kurt Wolford.
“I’ve worked every job that a corrections officer could,” Briel said. “At the old jail, we all rotated jobs, for the most part.
“One day I could be committing inmates to the jail. Another day I could be handing out medications or be watching the inmates’ recreation room.
“At the current prison, I mainly worked in the intake area, but I’ve also done inmate transports and worked in the maintenance department as a hygiene officer.”
Briel worked at the old jail in Ebensburg Borough until it was replaced in 1997 by the current prison at 425 Manor Drive in Cambria Township. He remains a fixture of the prison’s staff.
“John Briel’s story is woven into the very history of this institution,” Kurt Wolford said. “Years ago, he worked alongside my father. ... When I first stepped into this profession, it was John who guided me, taught me and showed me what it truly means to be a correctional professional.
“And throughout my career, he has continued to stand as a source of wisdom, strength and unwavering support.”
Briel is a member of the prison’s CERT team and has held a position as leader of the prison’s corrections officer union. In June, he transitioned to a lieutenant position in Wolford’s administrative team.
“Today, our shift commander office is filled with some of the finest leaders this prison has ever known,” Wolford said. “They represent discipline, integrity and commitment at the highest level. Adding Capt. Briel into that mix does not just make the team stronger – it makes them exceptional.”
Briel is eligible for retirement in December, but he has no plans to retire yet. He said his goal is to help train the prison’s growing staff of corrections officers.
For the first time in at least 10 years, the Cambria County Prison is on track to be fully staffed with corrections officers. After the current class of cadets in the prison’s in-house training academy graduates Sept. 26 , the facility is set to be fully staffed with 90 full-time officers and 19 per-diem officers.
However, a majority of the current staff has five years of experience or less, Briel said.
“I feel like I have a responsibility,” he said.
Briel shares lessons from his experience as an instructor for new corrections officers progressing through the prison’s training academy.
“My goal at the jail right now is to get everybody to be the best they can be,” he said. “Kurt is revamping the training department. It’s changing greatly, and I think it’s making progress.”
Outside his work, Briel is a member of the Keystone Regional Fire & Rescue Department , which has stations in Cresson and Lilly, and enjoys spending time with his wife, their children and their grandchildren.
“Captain Briel is more than a leader; he is a cornerstone of experience and knowledge,” Wolford said. “His presence raises the bar for all of us, reminding every officer what leadership looks like when it is built on dedication, loyalty and honor. He is, without question, an asset whose impact will echo throughout this institution for years to come.”
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