Black History Month spotlight: Sergeants Lomax and Porter
In honor of Black History Month, CDCR’s Peace Officer Selection and Employee Development celebrates two academy sergeants who have spent nearly three decades guiding cadets: Alfred Porter and Walter Lomax.
Despite retiring, they both returned as annuitants and continue to shape the next generation of correctional officers.
Sergeant Porter began in 1981
Porter, who is of Panamanian and Jamaican ancestry, began his career with the Department in May 1981 and retired June 2010. Throughout that time, he worked at several prisons including San Quentin, California Medical Facility, and California State Prison-Solano.
From 1984 to 1988, he worked in CSP-Solano’s Investigative Services Unit. He promoted to Correctional Sergeant in 1988 at Solano and transferred to the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in 1990. He promoted to Correctional Lieutenant in 1993 at CSP-Solano and returned to the Correctional Training Center in 1994.
Sergeant Lomax began in 1984
Lomax, who is of African-American and American-Indian ancestry, began his career with the Department in September 1984 and retired December 2008. He worked at Deuel Vocational Institution in 1984, transferring to Folsom State Prison in 1985. Lomax returned to Deuel as a Correctional Sergeant in 1990. Later that year, he transferred to CSP-Sacramento. Lomax transferred to the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center in 1994.
“I met (Lomax) at the range in 1994,” said Porter. “We’ve been best friends ever since.”
Porter, Lomax returned as retired annuitants
Even though they retired, Porter and Lomax returned to the Correctional Training Center as retired annuitants to continue instructing cadets. On any given work day, both sergeants can be found guiding cadets in the dining area, mentoring cadets in small groups, and imparting words of wisdom through lessons learned to ensure cadet success in the correctional environment.
The overall positive influence they’ve had on newly hired cadets cannot be measured. Over the last couple of decades, these two staples at the academy have inspired many who would later become sergeants, lieutenants and beyond.
“We’ve trained people who have gone on to be wardens,” said Lomax.
Porter and Lomax continue to inspire cadets—even to this day.
Interested applicants can apply online at JoinCDCR.com.
Story by Sgt. Berberena
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