SOCF to memorialize those who died in the line of duty

The name of each of the individuals who have lost their lives in the line of duty will be read aloud during the 21st annual memorial ceremony at Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) Wednesday, May 11 at 12 noon at SOCF.

Employees to be remembered are Arthur Sprouse, Gary Underwood, Eric Bowling, Beverly Shoemaker Taylor, and Robert (Bobby) Vallandingham. The SOCF Honor Guard will host the ceremony on the front lawn of the prison grounds. The ceremony is open to the public.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Employee Appreciation Week was May 2 through May 6, 2016. That week is set aside each year to recognize outstanding employees within the corrections profession.

This year SOCF selected its first female correction officer of the year. Brittany Williams has been as the SOCF 2016 Correction Officer of the Year. Prior to coming to work at SOCF, Williams was employed as a teller with Peoples Bank in Greenup, Kentucky.

She began her career as a correction officer at SOCF on Jan. 3, 2006 and has served as OC (Oleoresin Capsicum) instructor, a certified hostage negotiator, and is a member of the SOCF Mini-Gang Unit.

Williams is a native of Scioto County, a 2003 graduate of Minford High School. She also received a Certificate of Completion from the Scioto County Career Technical Center majoring in Sales and Marketing. She resides in Wheelersburg, Ohio with her husband, and is the proud mother of one son and one daughter. She enjoys family activities and fishing in her spare time.

State remembers those who died in the line of duty at SOCF

By Frank Lewis

[email protected]

Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.

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