Weekender Digest: New officers, Medal of Valor, photograph

September 20, 2024

This week, Inside CDCR covered the graduation for new correctional officers, the Medal of Valor, and the power of a photograph. For busy staff who might have missed these stories, we’ve created this new weekly digest.

Above the Call

Medal of Valor 2024 audience. — The 2024 Medal of Valor ceremony was held at the Richard A. McGee Correctional Training Center.

CDCR honors 16 in Medal of Valor ceremony

CDCR honored 16 employees for going above the call during Friday’s Medal of Valor ceremony. Read the full story, watch the ceremony, and learn more about the honorees’ achievements.

Beyond the Badge

New officers are next generation of CDCR

CDCR welcomed 173 new correctional officers as they graduated from the Basic Correctional Officer Academy Sept. 13. Story, photos and video by Pedro Calderón Michel, deputy press secretary with CDCR’s Office of Public and Employee Communications. Read the full story.

CALPIA

A group photo of the graduation at Mule Creek state Prison.

Mule Creek sees 45 graduate CALPIA programs

Thanks to the hard work of dedicated CALPIA vocational instructors, 45 incarcerated people earned job certifications and/or apprenticeships during a Sept. 12 Mule Creek ceremony. “These jobs that you do on a day-to-day basis are important,” said CALPIA’s General Manager Bill Davidson. “I hope you do this not just as a job while you are here at Mule Creek, but as the beginning of your career.” Read the story submitted by Michele Kane, assistant general manager for CALPIA External Affairs.

Obituaries

Smiling and relaxed Eugene Oliveira, obituary image. — Eugene Oliveira

Obituary image for Eugene Hogan, a retired correctional officer. — Eugene Oliveira

CDCR mourns recent losses of staff, retirees

Recent losses include retired Correctional Officer Eugene “Gene” Oliveira, a decorated military veteran; retired Correctional Officer Eugene Hogan, who worked for CDCR for 27 years; and Correctional Officer Stephanie Graff, who was only weeks away from retirement. Read the recent obituaries.

In memoriam

During the Medal of Valor ceremony, CDCR and CCHCS also honored the memories of staff who passed away over the last year. Watch the video:

Rehabilitation

A band performs at California State Prison, Corcoran. — Hook, a band on Corcoran Facility 3A, performed during the graduation.

Corcoran sees 21 graduate Anti-Recidivism Coalition

Twenty-one incarcerated participants recently graduated the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) program at California State Prison, Corcoran. The participants received certificates of completion after learning about board of parole hearings, taking part in criminal and gang self-help groups, and emotional intelligence. Read the story submitted by Lt. R. Clifton.

Unlocking History

A photo taken by David Reeve showing a trophy on a couch, won by Tony Espinosa in 1987 at Heman G Stark Youth Correctional Facility. — David Reeve’s photo taken in 2017 sparked a hunt to find the trophy.

The power of a photograph

For four decades, a trophy remained locked away in a shuttered youth facility. Thanks to a shutter bug passionate about preserving history, a long-lost boxing trophy has been reunited with the formerly incarcerated youth who won match. Read the full story and learn more about the power of a photograph in this story by David Reeve and Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor.

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