Top corrections officer chosen

The county is looking for corrections officers.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- The Mercer County Prison Board has named Corrections Officer Erin Resele as Corrections Officer of the Year.
Resele, 28, of Sharon, graduated with a superior rating from the Training Academy at Cambria County in May 2005 and was hired as a part-time correctional officer at the Mercer County Jail in July 2003. She was promoted to full-time status in November 2004.
She earned a commendation in October 2004 for discovering contraband drugs in the jail. Her commendation noted her "exemplary performance" and "outstanding work ethic" as well as her dependability, honesty, fairness, dedication, thoroughness and loyalty.
She was chosen by administrative and supervisory staff and confirmed by the warden and the prison board for the honor which is given to one officer annually.
Also Monday, Warden Jeffrey Gill told the board he is always seeking applicants for jail corrections officers because once they are trained, many move on to jobs with the state corrections system. Gill said corrections officers are hired part time after being given extensive county-paid training.
The part-timers are then moved into full-time positions as vacancies occur, generally within one year, he said. He added he has a particular need for female corrections officers.
Those interested in applying for the job should go to Mercer County CareerLink, 217 W. State St., Sharon, or call CareerLink at (724) 347-9257.
Other business
The board announced that cameras are being installed which will let inmates be interviewed at the jail by assistant public defenders from their offices in Mercer. Purchase price for cameras was 700.
Board members also agreed to have their solicitor William Madden review a contract which would govern the jail accepting undocumented aliens for a 72-hour stay before they are taken into federal custody.
Currently, illegal aliens arrested on Interstate 80 are taken to the Lawrence County Jail. With the recent opening of the new jail, however, Mercer has enough room to house them and would charge the federal government 70 per day per prisoner, board officials said.