Dodge for a Cause

The employees of Apalachee Correctional Institution announce their hosting of The Sergeant Ruben Thomas Memorial Trust Fund Dodge ball Tournament. All proceeds from the tournament will directly benefit the Sergeant Ruben Thomas Memorial Trust Fund. Secretary Tucker, Deputy Secretary Crews, Assistant Secretary Cannon, and Northern Regional Director Southerland are in full support of this event and encourage participation.

The Tournament will be held on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 10:00 am CST/11:00 am EST in Sneads, FL at the Adam Tucker Wilson Memorial Park located at Hwy 90 and Legion Road. The event will be held outdoors, so please plan accordingly. Concessions such as hotdogs, hamburgers, drinks, snacks, etc. will be available for purchase to raise additional funds. This event is a great opportunity for fellowship and for families from all areas to come out and have a great time, while benefiting such a wonderful cause. Just so you know the park is equipped with outdoor playground equipment for smaller children to enjoy as well. Come out and have a BALL!

Registration Fee: $125.00 per team

Authorization has been received from the Secretary’s Office for Institutional registration fees to be paid from each institution’s EBTF. The process for payment will be initiated through Central Office EBTF once a team has submitted their roster to ACI as mentioned in the attached documents. Once the submitted roster is received, ACI will scan the roster and forward to Central Office EBTF where a $125.00 deduction will be made from that institution’s central office EBTF account.

Team Requirements: (a minimum of 6 players per team / maximum of 10 players per team – a (2) female per team minimum and at least (1) female must start each game. (8-10 players per team is ideal to allow for substitutions.)

Deadline for registration: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 – Early registration is encouraged and would be appreciated in order for us to configure the brackets – The registration form and the waiver form must be signed and returned to us prior to May 30^th date.

Attached you will find the Dodge Ball Tournament Flyer and Registration Packet.

If you have any questions regarding registration and submission, please contact one of the following:

Officer Christie Dolan at (850) 718-0772
Email: dolan.christie@mail.dc.state.fl.us

Secretary Specialist Patricia Johnson at (850) 718-0769
Email: johnson.patricia@mail.dc.state.fl.us

Sign-Up Sheet and Rules

Hotel Information

Promotional Flyer

DC has 1,058 fewer employees than when the campaign began in February yet our membership has held steady, despite DC’s loss of employees. We started the campaign with 20,384 members or 80% and currently have 20,249, or 82% of all DC officers and employees.

Every location – prisons and and circuits – increased membership, even though many of them lost employees during this time period.

Since 1999 the Corrections Foundation has provided over $4.5 million in assistance to over 3,700 officers and employees. This fiscal year we’re on track to provide $600,000 to over 550 employees.

This is all made possible by DC’s officers and staff, sponsorships, and other donations.

LAKE CITY, Fla. — An inmate serving two life sentences for murder and robbery has been indicted for killing a north Florida prison guard.

A grand jury on Thursday indicted Richard P. Franklin on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and possession of contraband.

The Daytona Beach man could face a death sentence if convicted of murdering 24-year-old Sgt. Ruben Thomas on March 18 at Columbia Correctional Institution near Lake City.

Thomas was stabbed in the neck with a handmade weapon. A second guard was treated and released from a hospital after being injured in the attack.

Franklin was convicted of murdering 25-year-old Bethune-Cookman University student Gregory Roper in 1994.
He also received life for robbing an elderly man and 30 years for shooting the victim, who survived.

Since 1984, the first full week in May has been recognized as National Correctional Officers and Employees Week to honor the significant contributions of corrections professionals throughout the U.S. This is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our fellow officers and recognize the hard work and commitment to public service that each of you demonstrate on a daily basis. I am proud to celebrate the dedication and commitment of the more than 25,000+ professionals of the Florida Department of Corrections and to thank each of you for the job you do. 

Public, officer and inmate safety are the core of our Agency’s mission. However, this is only one of the elements of responsibility our Department is charged with. Equally as important as the security function, we have the responsibility to ensure we are providing the necessary programs to better prepare our inmates for their introduction back into society. Substance abuse treatment, education and vocational courses and the faith and character based programs are a few of the programs that are paramount to the success of an inmate’s transition from prison to community. Our success will hinge not only on the institutional programs received but the programs and oversight provided by our Community Corrections members as well. The partnerships forged between our Community Corrections and local and state partners, both public and private, allows us to provide services and support to not only the offenders but victims as well. Securing jobs, referring offenders to specialized treatment programs and providing opportunities for further development of life skills drastically reduces the likelihood of these offenders returning to prison which ultimately must be our goal. We cannot forget the other members of our agency that provide the day-to-day services which are vital to our Department’s success; our administrative and clerical staff, IT support and maintenance, our teachers and health services members, our fleet management, mail room and human resources members who work in our offices and institutions around the state and perform their duties without much fanfare but represent all that is good in our Department. 

Governor Scott has signed the attached proclamation showing his support of Correctional Officers and Employees’ Week which will be observed May 6^th-12^th this year. During this time I strongly urge each of you to celebrate our successes as an Agency. Offices and Institutions statewide will be hosting events during Corrections Week and Executive Leadership Team staff will be making every effort to attend as many of these events as possible. In conjunction with Corrections Week, we will also be recognizing our FY 2011-12 Annual Award members in a ceremony at Central Office on Tuesday, May 8^th. 

Again, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your dedication and public service. This is your week and you should all be proud to be a part of the Florida Department of Corrections family. Also please take time during this week to remember those whom have lost their lives in the line of duty. Thank you for all you do each and every day. I am honored to serve as your Secretary.

Kenneth S. Tucker

The Department will be holding a Fallen Officers Memorial ceremony on May 31, 2012 at 10 am, during which we will recognize our employees who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the State of Florida, and those who died while on duty.  On that day, we will pause to remember the lives of Colonel Greg G. Malloy of Holmes CI, Sgt. Ruben Thomas III of Columbia CI, and Behavioral Specialist Kirk A. Cummings of Union CI.  The Department will also pause to remember those who have previously been honored.  A lunch will follow the ceremony.

Staff may attend as “time worked” with authorization from their supervisors, as long as the employee is not put into overtime status. I am authorizing uniformed staff to wear full Class A uniform with tie for this event. Instructions for placement of mourning badges can be found below. 

Please let your wardens or circuit administrators know if you will be attending by May 15, 2012 so we can get an estimate of lunch guests.

Address for the Harry K. Singletary, Jr., Academy:

110 Melaleuca Drive
Crawfordville, Florida, 32327-4963

Individual institutions and facilities will be responsible for providing their own Mourning Bands.

Mourning Band (Uniformed Staff):

1. The mourning band is the traditional way for a law enforcement or corrections officer to publicly mourn the death of a fellow officer.
2. The mourning band will be worn only when wearing the uniform shirt, and will not be worn with the polo shirt or when wearing the badge in the leather badge holder.
3. The mourning band will be solid black in color and a maximum of one-half inch (½”) in width and be placed horizontal on the badge and centered half way between the top and bottom, covering the state seal.
4. The mourning band will not be allowed to cover the badge number.

Join Us for the 13th Annual Corrections Foundation Charitable Golf Tournament

Thursday, October 25th
SouthWood Golf Club
3750 Grove Park Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32311

9 AM: Registration, Putting Contest and Range Balls
10:30 AM: Tee Time
12 PM: Lunch delivered on the course
3:30 PM: Awards Ceremony & Dinner

Hole-in-One Prize: 2012 Triumph America Motorcycle

Hole-in-One Prize: 2012 Triumph America Motorcycle

BONUS PRIZE -  $1,000 if within 12 inches of hole in one. Prizes for Closest to the Hole, Longest Drive, Straightest Drive, and more!

36 Four-Player Teams
4 person scramble (Select-A-Shot)

Register on or before October 25th – $85 per player (covers green fees, cart, polo shirt, dinner, & awards ceremony)

Register on or after October 26th – $95 per player (covers green fees, cart, polo shirt, dinner, & awards ceremony)

About the Annual Charitable Golf Tournament

The Florida Department of Corrections’ Correctional Officers (COs) and Probations Officers (POs) put their lives on the line daily protecting public safety in every neighborhood and community throughout Florida by watching over prisoners or keeping an ever-watchful eye on those on probation.

The Corrections Foundation’s Annual Golf Tournament raises funds to provides these officers and support staff in times of emergencies, critical illnesses, and other unforseen crises. This annual tournament – along with other sponsors and donors - has allowed the Corrections Foundation to provide $4.3 million in financial assistance to 4,500 officers and staff since 1999.

Pre-registration:  Register by Friday, October 12th-$85 per player/$340 per team. Register on or after Saturday, October 13th—$95 per player/$380 per team. The team captain should fax or mail the form for the entire team to the Foundation at the fax #/address below. Please insure all areas of the form are filled out so we can contact you if necessary. Full payment for the entire team should be made by check or credit card when registering. Reservations at the course will be confirmed once registrations are paid in full. No refunds after Friday, October 12th, 2012.

On-Site Check-In: The team captain and all eam members should check-in at the same time to receive your starting hole assignments.

100% of proceeds will go the Sgt. Ruben Thomas Benefit Fund.

Tickets are $1 each or 12 tickets for $10. To purchase call 850-686-5697.

The drawing will be held on May 28th.

The Pulleys are available for $2.00 each, in gold or black, and are a great way to recognize your officers and staff during Employee Appreciation Week, which is the first week in May. 

Download the form to order the pulleys. Checks should be made payable to ”Corrections Foundation”. Orders can be sent to:

Corrections Foundation
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500.

If you have questions, please contact the Foundation at (850) 717-3712.

Central Office will hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, April 25^th to raise funds for the family of Sergeant Ruben Thomas.

For just $5.00, you can purchase a meal of chicken and rice, green beans, a roll and butter, dessert and a drink. 

Please see the attached flyer for more details.

Tickets can be purchased from Joy Ailstock or Debbie Kissane.  Please be sure to purchase your ticket by no later than Friday, April 20^th so that we can get a head count for food preparation. 

Click “Buy This Now” to purchase your ticket for the cookout. Your receipt serves as your ticket and will be emailed to you when you complete your transaction.

Ticket: Sgt. Thomas Central Office Cookout
Price: $5.00

For a minimum donation of $10 non-uniformed employees can wear jeans on the following Thursdays:

• April 12^th
• April 19^th
• April 26^th
• May 3^rd

Those who have already donated a minimum of $10 are of course allowed to participate without a new contribution.

The best and easiest way to donate is online by visiting http://bit.ly/SgtThomas. You will receive an instant email acknowledgement with a receipt for your donation.

For those who prefer to donate with cash or check send your contribution to:

Corrections Foundation
Attn: Sgt. Thomas Benefit Fund
Room 435G
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500

Write “Sgt. Thomas Benefit Fund” in the memo section of the check.

Thank you all for your support of Sgt. Thomas and his family and for coming together in this time of tragedy.

All donations to the Corrections Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, are deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our federal tax ID is 59-3440417.