Fred Post, a resident unit officer at the Handlon Michigan Training Unit, has been selected 1995 Michigan Corrections Office of the Year. Officials a the prison say Post "has a natural gift for dealing with the special needs of the prisoners" he supervises. Post has been an officer in the Social Skills Development Unit at MTU since it opened in 1988. The unit houses prisoners who have difficulty adapting to prison because they are developmentally disabled, or because they have limitations in skills relating to self-care, language, learning, independent living and social and personal responsibility.

Having "unlimited patience" is how officials describe Post. "Because of the unique nature of the prisoners in the program, Officer Post is exposed to situations every day which are considered heroic. Prisoners are constantly acting out their immaturity by threatening or attempting suicide, fighting, throwing temper tantrums and threatening staff and fellow prisoners," says acting Warden Jan Price. She says Post has the ability to remain calm in tense situations and projects control to the prisoners he supervises.

Post says his 15-year-old son, Zack, who is developmentally disabled, has helped him learn to deal effectively with the prisoners in the SSDU program. "Zack" is the special insight Post brings to his job. He is the inspiration for Post's efforts with the 117 men in F unit who have special disabilities and difficulties.

"Fred is particularly good with the prisoners. In fact, when he's on shift, I just feel more confident in general," says unit director Dr. Mary F. Farkas. "He's honest and willing to share his concerns and disagreements. He's steady and patient."

But Zack is the starting point in this success story. His many handicaps, including difficulty in speaking, has given Post the patience to deal with prisoners who are frequently immature, impulsive, learning disabled, sometimes deaf and unable to take care of their most basic needs. Often the prisoners have attention deficit disorders, cannot read or write and left on their own would not be able to deal appropriately with other prisoners or staff. The goal of unit staff is to get them back in general population, if possible, and eventually back into society where they will be able to take care of themselves without resorting to crime.

Post making his rounds

I were a single parent with a child like this I might give up and put them in foster care," says Post.

But Zack has taught Post and his wife, who is a school teacher, patience. And he has given them more. "It's a trade off," says Post. "Zack can come up with some of the darndest things you wouldn't think he could. He has a great sense of humor, and he's never angry but you might think he would be because he's so hard to understand. He doesn't get frustrated."

Post's work with his son has taught him that people with handicaps can do much more than you might think with encouragement and support.

That premise is the heart of the Social Development Unit, which has been in operation since 1988, to deal with prisoners who can't function in general population because of their limitations. The officers who work here chose the job and are there for their ability to work with the prisoners. All the staff in the unit, from Dr. Farkas to the officers on the rock, work as a team to guide the growth of the prisoner.

"I've never worked in a place where staff get along as well as we do," says Post. "We can disagree and still remain professional." As a group, the employees socialize periodically and meet as a staff monthly for staff meetings. Officers take part in biannual evaluations of all the prisoners in the program. Officers are involved in screening and evaluating prisoners; the meet informally with clinicians and doctors to discuss problems with particular prisoners.

When Post was given the Department's highest award this year, the Unit F team showed up to show their support and share in his joy.

Post recalls the once when the unit was locked down while staff searched for a missing screwdriver, the doctors and clinicians helped the security staff unlock the doors to feed the prisoners and to let them use the bathrooms. "Working together like this make all our jobs less stressful," says Post.

The group's efforts vary with the prisoners' special needs. "In the morning we sometimes have to remind some of these guys they have to put on clean clothes and wash their faces, brush their teeth," says Post. "But once they get into a routine, they do a good job. Once you get to know the prisoners, you begin to understand them," he says.

Post's experiences with his son and the improvements he's seen in prisoners in the unit cause him to believe that the offenders are capable of much more than they've been given credit for in the past. "If we can help even just one or two of these guys to change their behavior, it's going to make a difference," says Post.

Fred has worked for the Department and MTU since 1977. His selection for 1995 Officer of the Year was made from among five finalists. The selection committee was made up of members of a committee of the Michigan Corrections Officer Training Council.