A R I Z O N A D E P A R T M E N T O F C O R R E C T I O N S
Volume 09, Issue 01
Inside this issue:
Pg. 2&3................................................Around Arizona
Pg. 4...........................................ADC In The Spotlight
Last Page................................................COTA Corner
The Post
New Director appointed
Arizona Governor Jan
Brewer has named Charles L.
Ryan as Interim Director
of the Arizona Department
of Corrections and named
Charles Flanagan as his Deputy
Director.
Charles L. Ryan has 30
years of experience in the field
of Corrections, having served
most recently as a corrections
consultant on the national and
international levels. He has
served as Assistant Program
Manager for the Department of
Justice, as a prison warden and
as a prison administrator.
In November of 2002
Mr. Ryan answered the call
from then Governor Jane Hull
to step in and take over as
Acting Director of the Arizona
Department of Corrections.
Mr. Ryan has extensive
experience in the development
of correctional institution policy.
He has also been instrumental
in developing the operational
processes, designed not only to
enhance inmate accountability
Interim Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections Charles L. Ryan and Interim Deputy Director Charles
Flanagan bring more than 50 years combined correctional experience to the department.
ADC again leads state in SECC contributions
CO II Larry Brown opened the SECC event by singing the National Anthem,
followed by a stirring rendition of “I’m proud to be an American”, with
hundreds of spectators joining in on the chorus.
The ten finalists for the grand prize, including CO II Hector Villa, CO II
Franciso Sanchez and Captain Robert Wright, wait for their chance to win
a new car.
The Arizona Department
of Corrections has once again
shown the state that when it
comes to giving, ADC employees
are all heart.
In 2008, correc-tional
employees contributed
$366,689 in payroll deductions
The success of the 2008
campaign can be credited to the
efforts of Agency Coordinator
Virginia Strankman and
her local area coordinators,
including Tami Bowman,
Kenneth Bradshaw, Timothy
Brockman, Sandra Brockman,
and one-time contributions to
the State Employees Charitable
Campaign. The Department
also raised $99,475 through
special events. Overall the
Department raised a total of
$466,163, the most of any state
agency.
Merry Burwell, Margaret
Deskins, Sherrie Donoho,
Rachel Dupree, Wendy
Eccles, Dawn Gangl, Kimberly
Goldsmith, Danielle Hallahan,
Rusty Heaps, Jacky Herrera,
Barbara Lancaster, Coral
Martinez, Robert Miller,
Rick Morales, Shannon Price,
Gloria Quinonez, Cheryl
Tavoletti, and Christina
Valenzuela.
Last year state
employees pledged more
than $2.3 million to over
700 charitable organizations
through the SECC, with the
ADC alone meeting over 20
percent of the state’s entire
collection. In the past 16
years, state employees have
raised over $20 million dollars
to support charities across the
State, nation and throughout
the world.
On January 7, ten state
employees, including COII
Franciso Sanchez of ASPC-The
car keys given to Captain Wright
and Officer Sanchez were unable to
start the car.
Continued Pg. 3
and programing, but to make
prisons safer..
Charles Flanagan has
over 23 years of professional
correctional experience, the
majority of it with the ADC,
having been promoted from
officer through Warden and
Assistant Division Director, with
fourteen years of experience
in executive positions and an
additional five years experience
in supervisory and senior
security positions. Prior to
his appointment by Governor
Brewer, Mr. Flanagan served
as Director of the Correctional
Education Division of Cochise
Community College in Arizona,
as well as program co-chair of
the college’s Administration of
Justice Studies program.
Director Ryan wants
to assure the men and women
of the Arizona Department of
Corrections that he will continue
with the objective of ensuring
the safety and security of our
prison system for the public, the
staff and the inmates.
CENTRAL OFFICE
Black History Month honorees to receive
Rising Star awards
February is Black History
month and the Arizona Department of
Corrections proudly honors the African
American men and women who exemplify
the professionalism and commitment
to improvement and quality of service
within the department. Today, African
Americans comprise nearly six percent of
the Department of Corrections workforce,
occupying key positions as administrators,
deputy wardens, investigators, officers and
recruiters.
Black History Month was first
conceived in 1925 by Dr. Carter Godwin
Woodson, a Harvard scholar and son of
former slaves who dedicated his life to
accurately documenting Black history.
The event was first celebrated in 1926 as
Negro History Week during the second
week in February because it marked the
birthdays of both Frederick Douglass
and Abraham Lincoln. Fifty years
later, President Gerald R. Ford decreed
February as Black History Month.
This year the theme is “The Quest
for Black Citizenship in the Americas”
and honors a group of interracial
Americans who 100 years ago joined
together to form the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). The centennial of the
NAACP is an occasion to highlight race
Around
Arizona
PPA Gary Romines to retire after 33
years
Story and photos submitted by CO IV John Hernandez
FLORENCE
www.2 azcorrections.gov The ADC Post
and citizenship in American history, from
the experiences of free Blacks in a land
of slavery to the political aspirations of
African Americans today.
In February, the ADC asked staff
to nominate their fellow workers to be
honored during Black History Month
and 11 men and women have been
chosen by their peers as deserving special
recognition. These exceptional ADC
staff have been presented a “Rising Star”
plaque and a letter of appreciation from
Director Charles Ryan at their respective
units or office. In alphabetical order, this
month’s “Rising Stars” are.....
CO III Raymond Batey
ASPC-Douglas/Counseling
Major Anthony Coleman
ASPC-Perryville/Complex Security
Lieutenant Gerard Cox
ASPC-Lewis/Rast Unit
CO II Farlin Farr
ASPC-Perryville/Santa Rosa Unit
Sergeant James Mitchell
ASPC-Perryville/Complex
Administration
CEPT Mary Mitchell
ASPC-Tucson/Santa Rita Unit
Sergeant Katina Murphy
ASPC-Tucson/Santa Rita Unit
CO II Harvey Rushing
ASPC-Eyman/Operations
CO II Henderson Speamer
ASPC-Eyman/Browning Unit
Occupational Health
Administrator Derleen Spence
Support Services Division
X-Ray Technician Ted Thomas
ASPC-Lewis/Programs Services
Division.
For photos and additional information on
these ADC men and women, you can go
online to www.azcorrections.gov.
Physical Plant Supervisor Gary
Romines has been saving money
and the environment for years.
While the Arizona Department
of Corrections has become more
environmentally friendly in the way it
operates over the past few years, ASPC-Florence
has been fortunate to have a real
visionary who has not only found ways
to conserve energy and natural resources,
but to save money as well. Gary
Romines is the Physical Plant Operations
Administrator and a leader in finding
ways to save the Department money and
help protect the environment. But after
over three decades of service, Romines
has decided it’s time for a change and has
announced his retirement this year.
Gary Romines started out as a
correctional officer in 1976. He promoted
to Sergeant and Lieutenant then put in
to promote to Captain at the same time
he applied for the job as a Physical Plant
Specialist II. He was offered the position
at the Physical Plant first and accepted
it in 1995, a good decision for Gary and
a great one for the Department and
Florence Complex.
In 2008, Romines and his physical
plant staff and inmates took on a project
of welding over 800 single bunks into
double bunks, which allowed ADC to
expand its temporary beds at numerous
institutions throughout the state. Gary
and his team meticulously choreographed
the transportation and delivery of these
400 plus double bunks so that the
Population Management Team could
keep pace with inmate growth. The
Department saved over $140,000 by
converting these beds, instead of having to
purchase additional beds.
Last year, Romines also had the
East Unit perimeter 1500-watt Halogen
lights replaced with 400-watt metal
Halide lights. The initial $27,000 cost to
replace the lights was offset by a $17,000
APS rebate and with the energy savings
from the first year of use, the lights have
more than paid for themselves. Romines
has also saved energy and resources by
upgrading the hot water systems in one of
the huts at East Unit and at North Unit
III. The old commercial water heaters
cost $3,500 and had a life expectancy
from 2 to 5 years. Romines and his
physical plant staff installed new tank-less
water heaters at a cost of only $1600
each. They are more efficient, take up
less space, provide hot water on demand
have a life expectancy of ten years. They
PERRYVILLE
ADC Inmates raise over $40,000 for
shelters in Mesa and Tucson
Two Arizona charities were very
surprised when they were contacted by
ADC staff at ASPC-Perryville. A &
A Cottages Incorporated in Mesa is a
non-profit agency that provides service to
abused, abandoned and neglected teenage
girls and Casa de los Nines in Tucson is
a crisis shelter for abused and neglected
children from birth up to 12 years of age
that have been removed from their home.
Both are non-profit organizations that
rely heavily on donations to keep their
doors open and with the current economic
outlook, things were looking bleak. But
that was before the Arizona Department
of Corrections came to the rescue.
Dorothy Corey, Executive Director
of A & A Cottages said she received a
call from CO III Donna Schilling and
was told that the inmates had conducted
a fundraiser and that they had chosen
her agency to help. Corey says she
was taken back. “It wasn’t something
she had asked for or solicited , it wasn’t
anything she had ever heard of before
and it was a wonderful surprise.” It was
even more of a surprise on January 16,
when Corey was presented a check for
$15,348.67, money raised by Santa Cruz
inmates in just one month. Corey says
this donation is incredible. “It just fills
my heart that the inmates are giving back
to the community by doing nice things
for young women in hopes they will
learn the tools and skills to improve their
lives.” CO III Schilling was in charge
of the fundraiser which is all part of the
department’s Restorative Justice program
that encourages inmates to give back to
Around
Arizona
Safford Contributes To Community
SAFFORD
are safer than conventional water heaters,
producing energy savings up to 50
percent.
Over the years he has been called
to travel to other complexes around the
state, assisting with new projects or to
make recommendations for improvements
to the other facilities. While the ADC
will miss Gary as he retires, we are
grateful to have benefited from his
experience and innovations through his
years with the Physical Plant Operations.
society. She says while looking through a
list of approved charities, she came across
A & A Cottages and read the description
of the help the charity provides for young
women. CO III Schilling provided the
inmates with the information and they
agreed this would be a worthy cause to
help.
Dan Gregory, who represents
Casa de los Ninos was amazed after being
informed they were getting a check for
$24,827.75. He says they have been the
recipients of funds from ADC inmates
before, but never this much. Gregory
claims that ADC inmates are their
largest donors and he loves telling people
the story of where the money comes
from, how the inmates raise the money
and how come they’re doing it. CO III
Barbara Lancaster, ASPC-Perryville
fundrasier coordinator says the inmates
are very supportive of the restorative
justice program. “They have realized
they have an obligation to give back to
the community, to recognize the crime
victims and do what they can in their
capacity.” CO III Lancaster says the
inmates realize they have left a crime
victim out in the community and while
they may not always make it right for their
own victim, “They can make things right
to victims in general, especially when it
comes to women and children.” Lancaster
says all seven units at ASPC-Perryville
participated in a fundraiser for Casa de
los Ninos from mid November to mid
December.
For fiscal year ‘08, ASPC-Perryville’s
total charitable contributions
were $326,000 and for the first six months
of fiscal year ‘09, ASPC Perryville just
over $197,000. Deputy Warden of
Operations Tara Diaz says this shows
an incredible dedication by the inmates,
given the current economic state. Diaz
says ADC staff encourages the inmates
to participate in the restorative justice
fundraisers and are themselves inspired
to donate in return, contributing to
their own fundraisers for local Arizona
charities.
Front row from left: Sharon
Valencia, Site manager for
SEACUS program and CO III
Robin Conley. Back Row from
left: Royce Hunt, SEACUS
program manager, CO III Judy
Pavlacky and Deputy Warden of
Grant Unit Jim Young.
Southeastern Arizona Community
Unique Service (SEACUS) will continue
to provide nourishing, quality meals
to those in need thanks to a generous
donation from ASPC-Safford./Graham
Unit. Though the combined efforts of
CO IIII Judy Pavlacky and Robin Conley,
inmates have been able to participate
in ice cream and food sale fundraisers,
raising enough money to keep SEACUS
Meals on Wheels program going for
the entire year. Since the fundraiser
was begun last September, a total of
$6,510.89 has been raised and presented
to SEACUS, providing over 3,700 meals,
free of charge, to the elderly and disabled
www.The ADC Post azcorrections.gov 3
From left to right, DWOP Tara
Diaz, CO III Barbara Lancaster,
Dan Gregory, with Casa De Los
Ninos, Dorothy Corey, Director of
A & A Cottages and CO III Donna
Schilling.
SECC continued...
State, nation and throughout the world.
On January 7, ten state employees,
including COII Franciso Sanchez
of ASPC-Douglas, Captain Robert
Wright of ASPC-Safford, and COII
Hector Villa of ASPC-Lewis, gathered
at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix for
an SECC event where the grand prize,
a new car, would be awarded. The ten
finalists were selected randomly by from
a pool of statewide SECC donors who
contributed at least $26 to the campaign.
The finalists were presented keys to the
car and one by one, tried the keys to see
if the car would start. Captain Wright
was the first to try his key, which did not
work. One by one, the other finalists,
including Officer Sanchez, tried their keys
with no success. The suspense ended
when the sixth finalist, Hans Olofsson,
who works for the Joint Legislative
Budget Committee, inserted his key and
started the car. Debra Hart and Darlene
Elfering, both with ADOT, won the
second and third prices and the seven
other finalists, including our ADC staff,
were presented with gift bags.
who live in Graham and Greenlee
Counties. Officials with SEACUS say
a majority of those meals would not have
been possible without those generous
donations.
In the
Spotlight
ADC Lieutenant pens children’s book about
change, acceptance and building friendships
S t o r y a n d p h o t o s u bmi t t e d b y A A I I I Ro b e r t Mi l l e r
Safford Complex is proud to have Lieutenant Tanya Stingley as
a member of the Safford family. Lieutenant Stingley began her career in
ADC at ASPC-Winslow complex in 1995. In 2005 she was promoted
to Lieutenant and transferred to ASPC-Safford, where her duties include
being a member of TSU and as an instructor, teaching her the values of
teamwork. Lt. Stingley is not only devoted to the Department but is also
devoted to writing. She has been writing poetry since she was eight years
old and when Tanya was 17 years old she had her first published poem
and in 1999 completed her first book and then wrote a second book.
Although these books were not published she did not give up. She knew
that writing was more than just a hobby and she knew with perseverance
and determination she would succeed and succeed she did!
Her first children’s book, “Jonas and the Pride of Fiona” was
published in 2008. It is a story of courage, acceptance and friendship.
Lieutenant Stingley states “this story is a tribute to anyone who has ever
felt alone and to all who have a special family unit, be it through birth,
marriage or circumstance.” The story centers on Jonas, a bear and Fiona,
a mountain lion, who, though natural enemies, choose to ignore their
differences and work together to build a friendship.
Lieutenant Stingley’s future goals for the department are to
promote to Captain and become a Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO).
She continues to write and is in the process of finishing her second
book in the Jonas the Pride of Fiona series. Tanya says her advice to
other writers is “Just let the words flow. Learn as much as you can about
everything, never lose your imagination and never forget the greatest
story ever written started with a single stroke of the pen.”
Lt. Tanya Stingley has finished one children’s book and is busy working on another
one.
www.4 azcorrections.gov The ADC Post
ASPC-Florence Central Unit library
transformation complete
S t o r y a n d p h o t o s u bmi t t e d b y CO I V J o h n He r n a n d e z
Deputy Warden James Kimble recently coordinated with
Librarian Vince Parker to physically move and then rebuild the Education
Resource Center/Library. Librarian Parker took his assignment to
heart and after three short weeks and many long hours of work the “new”
Education Resource Center/Library is ready for business. Central Unit
now possesses a Library which many a community would be glad to claim
as their own.
The new Library currently contains 13,500 books and houses
the Department’s book repository which totals 60,000 more books. It
includes a sound system that plays soft jazz to set the tone for the day. It
can accommodate 16 inmates at four reading tables and has one computer
for inmates to use to look up the Department’s policies and procedures.
There is a room for access to the Paralegal and a display cabinet of books
autographed by the authors that Librarian Parker has collected over the
years. These authors include Robin Cook, Carol Higgins Clark, Michael
McGarrity and Phillip Margolin as well as a copy of former Central Unit
inmate Jimmy Santiago Baca’s book “A Place To Stand”. An autographed
copy of Tom Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation” is also in the collection.
Librarian Parker, with the help of his inmate clerks, have created an
environment conducive to learning and self improvement for inmates.
Librarian Vince Parker created a modern and efficient library out of an empty
briefing room
What do you want? New name? Specific stories?
More pictures? Are there any questions about depart-mental
policy you would like explained? Is there a co-worker
you believe should be recognized for their hard
work? Do you have a photo you would like to see used
for our masthead? The Post is for and about the men
and women of the ADC. So let us know at...
The Arizona Department
of Corrections newsletter
is now exclusively online
and we want your input.
media@azcorrections.gov
COTA CORNER
The Arizona Department of Corrections congratulates the recent graduates of the Correctional Officer Training Academy. COTA is located on 40
acres in the foothills west of Tucson, with additional classes held at ASPC-Perryville and other locations as necessary. Twice a year COTA also hosts a
K-9 Academy. COTA provides training for ADC cadets and tenured staff and for county jails and other detention centers around the state. The
curriculum encompasses 360 contact hours and the graduating cadets receive 21 Community College credits, which they can then use towards
higher-level education degrees. Cadets are trained and assessed in six different areas including academics, physical fitness, firearm qualification,
self defense, professional behavior and ethical standards. Following nine weeks of training, graduates are sworn in as Correctional Officers.
C O T A C l a s s 8 3 3 C L A S S R O S T E R
C L A S S AWA R D S
Travis G. Adams, Christopher A. Clevenger, Joseph L. Cottrell,
Donovan O. Cox, Daniel Curley Jr., Sean R. De Marzo, Barry L.
Ducharme, James J. Flood, Robin M. Gamble, Walter Girton,
Johnell Jelks, Michael A. Jones Jr., Joel A. Kiele, Janelle Laughlin,
Zachary J. Palmer, Kevin J. Reames, Guadalupe Rogers, Petra B.
Salgado, Kathleen S. Snodderley, Todd M. Stoops, Danielle Teruya,
Christopher A. Younan.
Professionalism: Walter Girton. Academic Achievers: Janelle
Laughlin - 94.83%; Kevin J. Reames - 94.46%; Kathleen S. Snodderley
- 92.80%. Firearms Expert: Daniel Curley, Jr. – 246; Walter Girton
– 242; Donovan O. Cox – 241; Zachary J. Palmer – 240.
Class Lt.: Lisa Oberle Advisor: CO II Dennis Hawks
Class Sgt.: Russell Simpson Advisor: CO II Jonathan Sigl
C O T A C l a s s 8 3 4 C L A S S R O S T E R
Gabriel Contreras Jr., Jennifer R. Claunch, Samantha L. Crawford,
Antwuan D. Flemons, Jeanette Garcia, Terry A. Hess, Bonnie M.
Himes, Gary R. Joe, Joaquin A. Mendez, Karla M. Mendoza Cedeno,
Steve J. Molera, Andrew L. Musgrove, Steven M. Olson, Glenn E.
Preston, Oswaldo S. Robles, Samuel C. Schoppenhorst, Israel
Skinner, Ruth E. Welch, James T. Williams III, Rosiland R. Wright,
Eric Yeomans, Patrick A. Young.
C L A S S AWA R D S
Professionalism: Gary R. Joe; Eric Yeomans. Academic Achievers:
Bonnie M. Himes - 95.39%; Andrew L. Musgrove - 92.07%; Samantha
L. Crawford - 92.07%. Firearms Expert: Patrick A. Young – 245.
Class Lt.: Lisa Oberle Advisor: CO II James Chapman
Class Sgt.: Norma Rubio Advisor: CO II Justin Rice
C O T A C l a s s 8 3 5
Class Lt.: Lisa Oberle Advisor: CO II Jesse Oldham
Class Sgt.: Tom Dimmick Advisor: CO II George Haney
Class Lt.: Lisa Oberle Advisor: CO II Rick Harrach
Class Sgt.: Shawn Sanders Advisor: CO II Thomas W. Reese
C O T A C l a s s 8 3 6
C L A S S R O S T E R
John H. Adams, Erica Araiza, Ammon I. Brown, Steve J. Bruno, Misty
D. Chavarria, Alejandra Cordova, Michael Cruz, Casey L. Espinoza,
David J. Garcia, Suhelen D. Gutierrez, James F. Hendricks, Michael
G. Hennis, Luis J. Hernandez Garcia, Jermaine L. Jones, Graciela
Lopez, Alexis J. Medina, Oscar Moran, Antonio Mormile, Stephen W.
Musgrove, Adriana Olivas, Sergio Pedroza, Rosemary P. Ramirez,
Michael R. Rodriguez, Jason R. Rollins, Elizabeth Roque, Elaine R.
Santiago, Clara M. Simmons, Eric R. Snyder, Ronnie A. Williams,
Courtney D. Wright, Holly L. Youngblood.
Lydia M. Avalos, Ronald J. Belliveau, Brock D. Brothers, William
B. Crowder, Stacey L. Del Tour, Cecilia R. Estrada, John P. Giehm,
Brian J. Grogitsky, Donald G. Hard Jr., Sheana M. Mcenaney,
Patrick R. Mcenaney, Juan F. Mendoza, William B. Outland, Jeremy
D. Pata, Justin W. Rivera, Christopher L. Robertson, Richard H.
Rose, Rafael Santellanes, Denise Silva, Jere S. Smith III, Justin A.
Varvel, Jeremiah J. Venator, Enrique C. Villanueva Jr., Mivhael J.
Waters, Darryl W. Yauch.
C L A S S AWA R D S
C L A S S AWA R D S
Professionalism: Alejandra Cordova. Academic Achievers: Casey L.
Espinoza - 94.28%; Elaine R. Santiago - 93.54%; James F. Hendricks
- 93.36%. Firearms Expert: Antonio Mormile – 248.
Professionalism: Jeremiah J. Venator. Academic Achievers:
Michael J. Waters - 97.97%; William B. Outland - 97.42%; John P.
Giehm - 97.05%. Firearms Expert: Justin A. Varvel – 249; Brock
D. Brothers – 242; Jeremiah J. Venator – 242; Brian J. Grogitsky
- 241
C L A S S R O S T E R
