Reps. Barrett and Frederick Lift Up Corrections Officers at 9/11 Memorial Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 7, 2017
Contact: Anita Lloyd anita@mco-seiu.org
Two corrections officers stood alongside police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, and other law enforcement honored at the Michigan House of Representatives 9/11 Memorial Ceremony today.
Officer Lorraine Emery of Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility was the guest of Rep. Tom Barrett. Officer Ray Sholtz of St. Louis Correctional Facility was invited by Rep. Ben Frederick.
Representatives hold the 9/11 memorial event every year to honor public servants who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001 and to recognize first responders who put their lives on the line every day in service to our state and our country.
Each representative may invite two first responders from their district. This was the second time corrections officers were invited to the event. Corrections Transportation Officer Jeff Reasoner was a guest in 2014.*
“I spoke with Officer Emery at a coffee hour in my district, and I was immediately impressed with her comments and poise,” Rep. Barrett said. “Corrections officers are professional law enforcement agents and deserve to be respected as such.”
Rep. Frederick said his friendship with Sholtz and contact with MCO’s legislative department convinced him that COs have valuable insight on the challenges facing the corrections department.
Rep. Ben Frederick, left, and Corrections Officer Ray Sholtz. Frederick invited Sholtz to the Michigan House of Representatives 9/11 Memorial Ceremony today honoring first responders.
“I am very happy for the opportunity to recognize our corrections and law enforcement officers on this meaningful day. I certainly treasure my friendship with CO Sholtz and other officers,” Frederick said. “I look forward to future opportunities to meet with MCO members regarding improvements to corrections issues in Michigan.”
Officers Emery and Sholtz said it was an honor to represent corrections officers at the special event.
“We made some great connections today that will reinforce MCO’s advocacy work in the legislature,” Sholtz said. “We also met members of other law enforcement unions and discussed our shared values.”
Rep. Tom Barrett, left, and Corrections Officer Lorraine Emery. Barrett invited Emery to the Michigan House of Representatives 9/11 Memorial Ceremony today honoring first responders.
“Michigan COs are among the best trained corrections professionals in the nation,” Emery said. “It was a morale boost to see that we’re appreciated by our legislators.”
* This story has been corrected to mention that an officer was invited to the event in 2014.
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Michigan Corrections Organization/SEIU represents more than 6,500 corrections officers working at state prisons and forensic security assistants at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry.