Beverly McCallum named Correctional Officer of the Year

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

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Pamela Walker
Date: May 4, 2005	Phone: (919) 716-3700

Beverly McCallum named Correctional Officer of the Year APEX- Beverly McCallum, correctional officer at Lumberton Correctional Institution, today received recognition as one of 11 Correctional Officers of the Year. Correction Secretary Theodis Beck, Prisons Director Boyd Bennett, colleagues, friends and family honored the officers at a ceremony where the officers received a framed certificate. Officer McCallum is being recognized for high productivity and exceptional work. In nominating her for the honor, one of her sergeants described her as a benchmark for women working in corrections because of her steady and firm attitude. She has earned the respect of both the male inmates she supervises and her co-workers for being fair, dependable and honest. Since April 2001 she has acted as a mentor for newly assigned officers who have been complimentary of her professionalism and job knowledge. She strives to ensure that the new officers are thoroughly trained. Officer McCallum is proficient on all posts including operations— a post that requires accurate computer and writing skills, control of inmate movements, tracking vehicles entering and exiting the facility, distributing inmate mail, accountability of equipment and accuracy of counts. No matter what task she is doing, she always maintains a positive attitude. “Her high level of productivity and exceptional work significantly impacts the overall operation of Lumberton Correctional Institution,” said Sgt. Hughes Oxendine. Governor Michael F. Easley declared May 2-6 as Correctional Officers Week in observance of the important public safety work done by more than 11,000 correctional officers in North Carolina’s 76 prisons. # # #