Officer wears many hats at prison

Michael F. Easley Governor		Theodis Beck Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Pamela Walker
Date: May 6, 2002	Phone: (919) 716-3733

Officer wears many hats at prison

KENANSVILLE- As the mail room officer at Duplin Correctional Center, Paul Dunn’s primary duty is to prevent contraband from being mailed to and from inmates, but that’s not his only job.

"I’ll do whatever is needed," said Dunn. "I enjoy what I’m doing because I feel like we’re helping keep the public safe and I’m doing a service for the community."

Dunn is one of the more than 10,000 correctional officers who are being saluted as part of Correctional Officers’ Week. Governor Michael Easley has proclaimed May 5-11 Correctional Officers’ Week to recognize those who help protect public safety by supervising inmates in North Carolina’s 76 state prisons and two IMPACT boot camps.

The Jacksonville resident started working for the department in 1998 after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He first went to work as a correctional officer at Wayne Correctional Center before taking his current position at Duplin.

Dunn says he’s seen all kinds of things people have tried to mail in and out of the prison such as money and pornography. When he’s not sorting, scanning and distributing mail at the prison, Dunn assists in taking inventory and distributing clothing to inmates and staff, assists with ordering and inventory in the canteen and any other jobs at the facility that need to be done.

In his spare time, Dunn spends time with his wife and five children. He recently volunteered as a basketball coach in Onslow County and he is also involved in his church.

Public Information Office
4202 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-4202
(919) 716-3700 Fax: (919) 716-3795

Pamela Walker
Director