Shirley Parker - Officer of the Year

North Carolina Department of Public Safety


	North Carolina DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Michael F. Easley, Governor Theodis Beck, Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 24, 2001

Contact: Keith Acree
Public Information Officer
(919) 716-3700

PARKER HONORED AS CORRECTIONAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Shirley Parker APEX - Sgt. Shirley Parker of Caledonia Correctional Institution in Tillery was recognized today by Correction Secretary Theodis Beck and the North Carolina Department of Correction as one of 12 Correctional Officers of the Year.

Parker implemented and still leads the correctional officer mentoring program at Caledonia. She was the first Caledonia officer to attend mentor training.

Parker focuses her attention integrity in the workplace and on advising and guiding new officers to be professionals. She conducts one-on-one training with new female employees and seminars for other staff.

She turned down her first chance to be promoted to sergeant, so she could continue working to get the mentoring program off the ground. Within a few months the program had become a success, and Parker received her promotion. Parker also serves as a member of the Prison Emergency Response Team.

"Sgt. Parker's professionalism and work ethic made her the perfect choice for a mentor and makes her a perfect choice for Correctional Officer of the Year," said Caledonia Superintendent Randall Lee.

Parker is a graduate of Murfreesboro High School and is attending Halifax Community College. She joined the Department of Correction in 1995 as a correctional officer at Caledonia. She lives in Murfreesboro.

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