Corrections_Today_September_October_2020_Vol.82_No.5

Certification Spotlight

recognition to those that I admire, those that have mentored me and shows my commitment to continu- ous professional growth. Becoming a certified corrections professional by ACA also demonstrates my voluntary engagement and pledge to greater measures of education, training and responsibility to the population I serve. The advice that I would give to a new correctional officer/deputy is simple. I would remind them that they entered public safety service because they wanted to help, they wanted to make a positive differ- ence. I remember being impressed by the badge that both my grand- father and uncle once wore. It was more than just an accessory. The

greeting to another. Even if your kindness is returned with anger or cynicism, keep your head above it all. It is the small things that make some of the biggest differences in our lives, and in the lives of others.

badge was a symbol of public trust to them then as it is now. However, it was their demeanor, the way that they carried themselves, on-duty and off-duty, that made the most positive impression upon me. For those that have been touched in a similar way, we owe it to those that have come before us, and those that will come after us, to elevate ourselves to the discipline we have chosen to serve. Be the change that you desire to see. Advance your career, develop your profession, and effect change and influence by becoming certified. Lastly, find joy and reward in the smaller acts of service. Take time out to listen to someone in need, saying please and thank you, or to offer a sincere

Adam Gonzalez is a sergeant of the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office in Uintah County, Utah.

For more information about ACA’s certification program, contact Cindy Gomez at (703) 224-0170 or cindyg@aca.org

For more information, contact the Office of Correctional Health at healthcare@aca.org.

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