Correctional Officers are the first responders in prisons. They are first on scene for any medical emergency, illegal activity or even fires.
This week the North Dakota State Penitentiary celebrated them.
Sargeant Tom Kelsh has been a Correctional Officer for 10 years. He says the job is nothing like you see on TV, it’s humbling.
Kelsh says his most important job is to help prisoners discover their full potential. No matter how they messed up in the past, he says he’s here to help.
Sergeant Kelsh says when most people think of law enforcement, they over-look correctional officers.
The Missouri River Correctional Center Sergeant shares, “There are these people out there that do really good work, and they really care about the people society doesn’t. They’re going to be our neighbors, they’re going to be cooking our food; they’re going to be building your house. They’re going to be doing everything in society, and it’s our job, again, to help them to realize their potential, that this doesn’t have to be a permanent stop for them.”
This week is important to Sergeant Kelsh, to remind us they are the ones working for change on the inside.
