SRCI officer names tops in the nation
Sunday, May 20, 2001 10:00 PM PDT
Tracy Widner
Sgt. Ron Park is tops at Snake River Correctional Institution near Ontario. In fact, Park is tops in the nation the top correctional supervisor of the year. SRCI Public Information Officer Amber Campbell said Park received notification in April he had been selected as "2001 Correctional Supervisor of the Year" by the International Association of Correctional Officers. Park, an Ontario native, is the first employee from the Oregon Department of Corrections to make it past the preliminary stages of the recognition process, let alone win the national honor. "I was absolutely blown away when I found out I had won," Park said. "I knew I had been selected as the Oregon finalist, but I did not expect to win." Campbell and Brad Heath, SRCI assistant superintendent of security nominated Park for the honor following a New Year's Eve incident where he and a fellow corrections officer witnessed an accident on their way to work. Park, who is an assistant chief with Ontario Fire and Rescue, immediately took control of the accident scene. "Because I am a certified emergency medical technician, I was able to evaluate the scene and when I made the 911 call I could verify we needed medical help, extrication equipment, Oregon State Police to help with traffic control, an ODOT sander and more," Park said. "I just waded right in to help." For his efforts Park was nominated for a life-saving award and became SRCI's top candidate in Oregon's portion of the supervisory awards program. Park, who is one of the original guards hired at SRCI in 1991, said he is honored to be selected for the award. "Frankly, I was humbled to have been selected as a nominee, let alone being the recipient. ... I have been working in corrections for the past decade and have found through all of the good and the bad, easy and rough times, this professional career has proven to be worthy," Park said. Park said he is proud of the duties he performs each day and looks forward to clocking in each day and starting a new adventure. "Everyone serving in this profession should be commended and praised for having the courage to proudly wear a uniform that protects the public from offenders that a are a danger to society," he said. Park said it is the challenge of his job which keeps him hooked day after day, year after year. In a profession which has a high turnover rate, he attributes his work with Ontario Fire and Rescue for part of his corrections success. "All the classes and training I took as a firefighter on how to deal with the physical, mental and emotional stress of tense situations and emergencies has really helped me handle working at SRCI and enhanced my career," Park said. Park said in is job and his personal life he is proud to live by the ideals of being firm, fair and consistent. "That is what I live by," Park said. When Park takes off his uniform and slips into civilian gear, he likes to spend time with his wife and children, volunteering as a girls softball coach, a fireman, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Ontario Elks and other organizations. "I try not to keep too many irons in the fire, but I do feel I have the responsibility to give back to my community and I try to pick things which can involve my family, too. My family comes first," Park said. As the national award winner, Park traveled to Washington, D.C., during the first part of May to pick up his plaque and address a gathering of the International Association of Correctional Officers. "It has been fun and I have found it a great way to toot my horn for corrections officers around the nation, my co-workers at SRCI and to bring a positive bit of news to SRCI," Park said.
