native american month do right

Leon Hinshaw began his career with the Arizona Department of Corrections at the Apache Unit in 1994 where he worked as a Correctional Officer until 1997 when he promoted to OSC III. As OSC he is always active, ensuring all fire and safety issues are resolved at the Unit. He also serves as the Chair for the Safety/Loss Committee at the Apache Unit. In response to direction from the State Fire Marshal to establish an on-site fire crew Mr. Hinshaw was instrumental in coordinating with Northland Pioneer College Fire Science Classes I and II at the Apache Unit. He is a master at identifying and interviewing inmates that meet the criteria to qualify and serve as members of the Inmate Structural Fire Crew. Mr. Hinshaw is also a force in the Round Valley area when it comes to community service. Under his leadership, inmate crews helped to make the St. Peter’s Thrift Store thriftier, painted all of the fire hydrants in Springerville and refurbished the Round Valley Senior Citizens Center.

Joe has spent the last 12 years in Community Corrections, promoting to Parole Officer in 1993 at the Flagstaff Parole Office and again to Senior Parole Officer in 2000 where he covers the entire Northeast area of the State to include the Navajo, Hopi, Walapai, Supai and Piute Reservations extending from Flagstaff north to the Utah border and east to the New Mexico border. PO Keevama covers the largest area of any one single employee in the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Often he travels more than 3,000 miles a month to conduct home investigations and check on offenders, traveling without benefit of regular addresses, often relying on hand-drawn maps by the offenders. Five times PO Keevama has been the first responder to travel accidents in isolated areas, in each instance providing first aid until medical assistance arrived.

CO II Roland began her career with ADC in February 1994, left in 1998, and reinstating in 2000 during which time she’s been presented with 7 Letters of Appreciation for her outstanding job performance and was recognized as employee of the month in January and May 1997. During her tenure in Complex Mail and Property, she has made 23 drug seizures including 14 drug seizures which a 30-day period in 2000. In 2004, Officer Roland assisted in an investigation into an inmate’s mail scam; she was able to establish the female suspect’s address within hours, leading to charges being filed against the female and the inmate. CO Roland really stacks up when it comes to saving money. For instance, when she audited ASPC-Phoenix she showed mail and property staff how to send inmate property at a reduced cost, saving the state about $60,000. She also volunteers to serve on department committees and contributes to their success including most recently, a focus group to improve staff training.

CO II Shirley, a member of the Navajo nation, began her career with ADC in June 1998. Since then she has received 6 Letters of Appreciation for her outstanding job performance and involvement in SECC fund raisers and charity organizations in the community. Indicators of her intellect and initiative are the new methods she instituted to manage clothing exchange implementing a quarterly clothing exchange saving and staff time and money. She also saved the department about 440,000, when she suggested issuing unemployed inmates deck shoes instead of boot.

CO II C. Smith is an exceptional officer. He joined ADC almost five years ago in 2001 and since then he has served as a COTA Advisor on two occasions and enjoyed it immensely. About three years ago, he represented ADC in the Police and Fire Games and earned five Gold Medals in Track & Field. More recently, he entered the same competition, winning two Silver Medals, one in the 12-mile Mountain Bike racing event, and the other in the 12-mile Time Trials.

Before he joined ADC, CO Smith served with the Navajo Police Department for 20 years, beginning as a patrol officer and advancing to the rank of sergeant where he was assigned to the Basic Training Unit in Toyei and coordinated training. During his first career, he was involved in two police deadly force encounters, receiving two citations for Medal of Valor, Bravery.

Officer Smith also served two years in the Army with the Third Infantry Division. He is a member of the Navajo Tribe.

Ms. Terry began working for the State of Arizona in 1997 as an administrative assistant in the Arizona Department of Administration’s benefit section. She went on to work for the Arizona Department of Health Services in 2002, also as an administrative assistant. In 2004, she accepted a position with the Arizona Department of Corrections as a personnel tech in the Human Services Benefit Section. She is a member of the Navajo Tribe. Ms. Terry has suggested changes in the Human Services/Personnel Administrative Services insurance unit to provide better customer service to ADC employees. Currently, two personnel techs in the unit handle all aspects of an employee’s benefits including enrollment, changes and corrections, LTD and STD, death benefits, etc.