BAUER

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By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

LUCASVILLE — The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Employee Recognition Week will be going on now through Friday when SOCF will hold its annual employee banquet. It is at that event that the facility honors outstanding employees in the corrections profession.

The Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) selected Correction Officer William Bauer as the SOCF 2012 Correction Officer of the Year.

“I learned about the honor about a month ago,” Bauer said. “I was pretty excited. It meant a lot. It’s a pretty great achievement.”

He began his career with the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at SOCF in an interim capacity Oct. 2, 2000, and became permanent Jan. 14, 2001. Bauer has worked most posts and was recently assigned as a temporary lieutenant. Officer Bauer also serves as facility training instructor in many areas.

“I like working here pretty well,” Bauer said. “We’ve got a good staff here, and it’s a pretty good place to work.”

Bauer recently graduated from Belmont College with an associate’s degree in criminal justice. He is a native of Monroe County where he graduated from Bealsville High School in 1998. He is married to Jennifer, who is also employed at SOCF, and is the stepfather of one son. He resides in the McArthur area.

The will be a memorial ceremony on the front lawn at SOCF at noon Tuesday, May 15. Larry Greene, assistant to the warden, said it will be the 17th annual ceremony to recognize employees of SOCF who lost their lives in the line of duty. Those who will be remembered are Arthur Spouse, Gary Underwood, Eric Bowling, Beverly Shoemaker Taylor and Robert Vallandingham.

On Friday, May 4, SOCF will have its annual Employee Banquet. The following employees will be recognized — Bauer as Correctional Officer of the Year, Employee of the Year, Roger Ruggles; Teacher of the Year, Kim Taylor; Hostage Negotiator of the Year, Lt. Arnie Ison; Honor Guard Member of the Year, Darren Mustard; Special Response Team Member of the Year, Brian Barney; Fire Fighter of the Year, Bobby Kingery; Crisis Responder of the Year, Shasta Cocus; Security Threat Group Team Member of the Year, Nicholas Brabson; Public Information Team Member of the Year, Jeremy Oppy and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team Member of the Year, Paula Holsinger.

For more information, call Greene at 740-259-5544, ext. 3251.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.