2011 Corrections Officer of the Year Roy Doades

Corrections Officer Roy Doades of the Woodland Center Correctional Facility has been named the 2011 Michigan Corrections Officer of the Year. Doades steps in for Officer Jacqueline Holmes, who was selected in February, but is not able to fulfill her commitment as the award recipient.

Officer Doades has served as a corrections officer since 1994. In that time he has become integral to training, serving as an in-service trainer at the facility level and a field training officer for several Officer Recruit Training classes. Doades was also chosen as 2008 Corrections Officer of the Year for Huron Valley Men's Correctional Facility. Officer Doades is a role model for officers and prisoners. He projects positive leadership qualities and exhibits professionalism and integrity throughout his duties. He enjoys developing new officer recruits - fostering teamwork, character, and physical fitness.

Officer Doades has performed admirably in managing one of the most challenging prisoner sub-populations in the Department - prisoners with serious mental illness.  Doades intervened when one prisoner was stabbing another, and was stabbed while controlling the situation. He saved the prisoner victim from further harm while restraining the assaultive prisoner until help could arrive. Doades also restrained a prisoner who attacked a nurse while receiving treatment. Doades stopped the prisoner from inflicting further injuries on the nurse.

Officer Doades is active in his church and volunteers in Boy Scouts of America, for the local food bank, for Habitat for Humanity, and as a coach for soccer and softball. A favorite phrase of his reinforces his level of professionalism and commitment, "Today was good, tomorrow will be better. What we learned today won't be lost tomorrow."