COVER STORY: Courage Under Fire - Part 3

by Ian Pickett, C.O., California Correctional Institution, Tehachapi

Courage Under Fire

On Sept. 11, 2001, our country was attacked and many brave men and women of the New York City Fire Department and Police Department gave their lives in the line of duty.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that requires a mass loss of life in tragic circumstances in order to recognize the need for the services of such brave men and women. I'm sure that after September 11, neither of those Departments has had a problem negotiating a fair contract with the state of New York.

In no way am I trying to take away from the sacrifice and dedication shown by the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in New York that day. However, I wonder if the state of California and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will continue to be such a reactionary system that it will take the murder of hundreds of correctional officers before we, too, are shown respect and treated fairly.

Every corrections employee in this state walks into their facilities to begin their shifts with the thought in the back of their heads that they may not walk out. And to make that conscious decision to walk through those gates anyway, we, along with other law enforcement personnel, surely deserve the same respect, fairness, and rights shared equally throughout the profession.

If that is too much to ask of the current administration, maybe they could at least give us the same amount of respect and rights to appeal that have been given the convicted rapists, murderers and child molesters that we keep behind prison walls.

We are not asking for a monument, no highways named after us, no medals. We are not even asking the state to stand up like real leaders and defend us against the unrelenting, unwarranted attacks from politicians and the media-although they should. We are just asking for a fair contract-one that is equal to that offered other state workers who daily put their own safety on the line to protect others.

We should get paid for what could happen, thankfully, not what always does.

I would like to extend an invitation to every assemblymember, senator, and even Gov. Schwarzenegger to come work with us for just one day. Sign your post orders, put our belt and boots on, shed your bodyguards and your titles, and depend on your partners only to get you safely through the day.

And when your shift is done, let me know if you would do our job, at any time, for a penny less than what we ask for-and deserve.

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