Donna Fitzgerald was raped and murdered at a prison in Florida. Donna was a correctional officer until June 2008
4 officers assaulted at rynning unit on Tuesday the 15th of April 2008. (swing shift)
David Robert Foran, 57, of Florence died June 3, 2008 at home. He worked for more than a decade at Arizona State Prison, in maintenance at Special Management Unit II-Eyman Complex. His friends described him as "sometimes grumpy, quick with a comeback but always willing to give you the shirt off his back."
Anne Adams Gibb, 74, died May 7, 2008 in Casa Grande. She worked as a correctional officer.
Charles E. Ripley, 74, died April 10, 2008 in Valley Farms . He was an upholsterer and taught upholstery at Arizona State Prison.
Mary Lemme, age 70, of Florence, Arizona passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2, 2008. She worked for the Arizona Department of Economic Security prior to her employment with the Arizona State Prison Complex-Florence where she worked from September 1994 through February 1995 as a Clerk Typist II. Mary was promoted to a Buyer II position from
September 1995 through July 1996. She transferred to the Arizona State Prison Complex-Eyman from July 1996 until her retirement in April 2006. Mary's strong work ethic, diligence and dedication earned her the ASPC-Eyman Employee of the Month Award and ASPC-Eyman Employee of the Year Award.
Daniel Sulser, 58, of Florence died April 14, 2008.Mr. Sulser served on the Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. He later worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections as a correctional officer.
Arlie Wesley Thurman, 89, of Sierra Vista died April 20, 2008 . At age 16 he enlisted in the Army. He retired with the rank of staff sergeant after 30 years. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and served in Military Police. In 1985 he retired again after working more than 20 years as a corrections officer. He was active in various Sierra Vista veterans organizations
Stephen Gerald Cox, 63, of Florence died March 25, 2008 at home. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a corrections officer.
Two officer's have been stabbed at ADOC. One 5 times at Rynning Unit. Another officer was stabbed at
CB-6. January 2008 in Arizona
K-9 DIED at Perryville Prison
K-9 officer Rick died of heat related problems. TSU officers were disciplined. This is the second K-9 at Perryville prison KILLED by staff. Despite numerous attempts by staff to adopt a retired service dog at Perryville. Warden Mary Hennessey ignored the staff and had the K-9 put to sleep in what many officers refer to as murder.
Arizona Correctional Officer from SMU (Super Max) had to be taken to the hospital by rescue helicopter after violent attack by an inmate. The attack happened Sunday April 13th 2008. The officer injured was part of a force cell team that did not have proper gear. Two other officers were also stabbed DURRING THE INCIDENT.
CO II Margarita "Mama" Castro died of breast cancer 6-2005. She was at Bachman unit, Lewis prison.
CO II Victor Sosa died in 12-07. He was at Stiner Unit at Lewis prison.
CO II William Powell (former Lt), committed suicide in 11-06. He was at SMU II at ASPC-Eyman.
Former Lt. Danny Valenzuela died 01-08 from lymphoma. He had many years in the dept also and had lastly worked at Morey Unit, ASPC-Lewis
2008 Officer Dulce Ramirez, was involved in a serious auto accident with an elk on her way to work at the Winslow facility. She is a dedicated officer and TSU member, as well as a mother of 3 young children. She is having more reconstructive surgery and expected to be off work for several weeks.
Douglas E. Falconer, began his career with the Arizona Department of Corrections in 2004, being assigned to ASPC-Phoenix's Globe Unit.
He became an exceptional corrections officer and was assigned to the Department of Corrections wild land crew. He and his crew fought multiple fires this season including the Alamo, Stone, Cabin, Sombreso and Lacienaga Fires. On Oct. 1 2008, while fighting the Sacramento Wild Fire near Lake Havasu, Falconer passed away of natural causes. Officers, and inmates alike responded and made every effort possible to revive Falconer without success.
On Oct 8 2008, fire crews, and law enforcement officers from around the state including Pinetop Fire, Show Low Fire, Lakeside Fire, Pine/Strawberry Fire, Rio Salado Fire, Sun City Fire, Payson Fire, the State Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, Globe Fire, Tri-City Fire, Canyon Fire, Globe Hotshots, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Honor Guard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Boarders and Customs, City of Maricopa Police, Casa Grande Police, Gila County Sheriff Department, Globe Police, and others came together with his family and friends to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Falconer at the Globe Fairgrounds.
Lori Faeth, representing Governor Napolitano: Policy Advisor for Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment spoke highly of the job Falconer did, and the great loss that took place on Oct. 1. Carl Alzen, Senior Chaplin shared stories with all in attendance about the leadership skills Falconer possessed and the respect it earned him. Expressing that Falconer was a leader with a heart.
That he believed that each man on his crew could have a future in fire fighting and hoped that he could have a part in giving them an opportunity to turn their lives around. Falconer believed that each of them had potential.
Corrections officer killed in Buckeye in apparent carjacking. A Department of Corrections officer was shot in the chest and killed late Saturday 10-18-08 in an apparent carjacking near his Buckeye home, police said. Bradley Jay Gerrard, 28, left Tartesso home around 11 p.m. to buy an air mattress for a visiting family member. He was apparently attacked on his way home from Wal-Mart, police reported. A passer-by found his body just after midnight Sunday in a median along Tartesso Boulevard near Bruner Road. Officers found Gerrard's partially burned vehicle several miles away. ADOC search dogs found the murder weapon and other evidence less than 2 miles from the scene. A 15 and 16 year old buckeye teenagers were arrested for the crime. Gerrard had been a corrections officer for four years. He was assigned to the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis, near Buckeye
"His Legacy Will Live On Through His Children and Grandchildren"
James (Jimmy) P. Gallagher joined the angels in heaven on October 13, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Marcella Gallagher; three children, Denise Smith of Mesa, Arizona, Patricia Padilla of Chandler, Arizona, Michelle Gallagher of Florence, Arizona and three grandchildren. A celebration of Jimmy's life was held on Friday, October 17, 2008 at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Florence, Arizona.
Jimmy was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 17, 1950. Jimmy and his family moved to Florence from New York in 1966. In 1972, Jimmy pursued a career as a correctional officer at the Arizona Department of Corrections. He progressively moved "up the ladder" and retired in 2000 holding a position as Deputy Warden. Those who worked with Jimmy said, "What can possibly be said about a man who dedicated 28 years of his life to the Arizona Department of Corrections. During his tenure with the department, he showed his peers and subordinates alike, that he held them in such high esteem. He was instrumental in the department's growth. He shared his generosity and special nature with each person he came in contact with: NO WONDER WHY THEY CALLED HIM SWEET PEA!" After three months of retirement, Jimmy joined the workforce once again, taking on similar work with GEO Group (Private Correctional Facility). Jimmy worked for GEO until September 2008. There is no doubt that those who worked with Jimmy for the last 7 years had the same experience as those who worked with him for 28 years. Jimmy had a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, camping and spending time with his family. Jimmy was a man of character. He taught those around him to be kind to people, take care of those less fortunate and treat people with respect. Jimmy valued his faith in Jesus Christ
Jan. 15, 2007 A health care professional and officer were assaulted Arizona Department of Corrections prison in Florence. Inmate Smith tried to kick an officer, then spit in her face. The officer broke a leg, which required surgery, during the fight. the health care professional was thrown on with fluids
Sgt McClane was assaulted ASPC-Winslow and required corrective surgery. he was hit in the face with a full pop can.
Two officers assaulted morey unit Lewis prison by an inmate with batteries in a sock as inmates on the recreation field cheered. 11/2008
Officer Knight died suicide browning unit CB12 11/2008
On 12-12-2008 at central unit swing shift an officer was assaulted by an inmate. The officer was cut from his ear across to his mouth with a home made bladed weapon. Due to his injuries this officer who just started the department received 14 stitches to close the wound up.
Susan B. Curtis, 68, of Florence died Dec. 9, 2008 at Hospice of Arizona. Ms. Curtis was born June 23, 1940 in Home, Pa. She worked at the Arizona Department of Corrections for 23 years and was administrative assistant to the deputy warden at Browning Unit in the Eyman Complex. She was involved in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing at work and also was actively involved in supporting veterans. She enjoyed sewing, playing bunco and spending time with her family
January 6, 2009 a corrections officer from ASPC-Florence/Eyman Rynning Unit died in a car crash on his way home. He was married with children. He elected to have the lowest amount of death insurance (30K) taken from his pay trying to save money
COII M. Castro and Sgt. D. Valenzuela. Both of them lost their battle with cancer quite some time ago. Both were assigned to ASPC Lewis
Officer ASPC-Eyman was attacked by shift commander a LT and former USMC while at work ADOC. The officer was put in a choke hold until he passed out and was taken to the hospital. march 2009 the same officer was air lifted to Scottsdale Memorial hospital when he was found unconscious in a control room from injuries from the choke hold. The Lt was forced to resign
