TO REACH US - Allegheny West Magazine

PERSONALPerspectiveTo love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.unknownByErma DoddNorth Fayette Township residentPatti says, “I love County.” She isreferring to her new career, a CorrectionalOfficer, C.O., at the Allegheny CountyJail.After 14 years, Patti’s driving job withDHL no longer existed. After stages ofemotions, uncertainty, and anxiety, timecame for change.Change came with 12 weeks of C. O.training at the prison. There wasclassroom study, defense, rigid physicaltraining, sit-ups, push-ups, running 32flights of stairs, jogging. It provedchallenging. Patti, at age 49, took trainingseriously and listened to classmates halfher age train and complain.Mission accomplished. She became aC. O. Christmas week of 2009.No longer just Patti, she becomes aconnection to the outside world, becomingalso a mother figure to the youngerinmates, to some like the bartender wholistens.Everyone wants to tell his or her story.There are 2700 stories at County. Storieschange daily as about 18 to 35 “tenants”come and go. Patti’s pod may have 109inmates, men or women.One good father, with a good heart, tellshis story.“My daughter is obese. She did not wantto go to school. The other kids made funof her.”He refused to make her go. Thus, he wasfined over and over. He could not afford topay the fines, so he spent 18 days in jail.Population of women is 300. Theirpods are D, E, and F. E pod is the HOPEpod - Helping Open People’s Eyes. Everywoman wants to be in E pod. First sheapplies. The chaplain must approve her.Christian-based women’s groups cometo the jail. Whoever started this oneprogram has touched many hearts. Ajailed mother may choose a storybook andread the book to her child, her voicebeing recorded. Patti walked into theroom and heard the emotions one momwas experiencing, her voice cracking. Themom stopped. After gaining control, shebegan to read again through her tears.The storybook and a CD of mom’svoice is then delivered to her child.Needless to say, many emotions are on thereceiving end, too.“The smell of my little girl’s hair,” iswhat one mother tells Patti she “missesmore than anything.”Patti asked, “What do you look forwardto most when being released?” The answerexpected was, “a big juicy steak.” Theanswer she got was, “cuddle up withfamily” and “sleep in my own bed.”“The tough babes are not so toughwhen they don’t have their guns andknives.”Prayer happens a lot in jail. Often anolder inmate may announce, “Anyone forprayer?”A circle of about 30 men will form;arms extend around shoulders to left andright, heads bow. Their prayers begin.“My job is not to judge. I am notwearing their shoes,” Patti says.Patti hopes to bring some happiness andpeace to their world. If you know Patti,she brings humor, too.Card games are often a pastime. All of asudden a big, angry inmate stands up,pounds his fist down on the table andyells, “You’re cheating!” Patti’s job is tocalm the incident.Laughing, she asks, “Where do youthink you are? You are in jail. These areprofessional con men, professional liars.”His fellow inmates broke into laughter,too. His response, “Point taken.”Patti believes, “What you give, youreceive.” One inmate walks by, gives Pattitwo fingers (index and middle). Then hisfingers go to his heart, signaling; peace inhis heart to her heart.“I could not think of myself anywhereelse. I’ve never been afraid. I drive towork smiling,” Patti says.Erma Dodd has launched a Web site,www.ermasjournals.com. Soon readers will be able tofind Erma’s articles on the site. Look for it.CORRECTION: In the last article published in the April2010 issue, the name of the young man should readTyler Lord.70 Allegheny West Magazine June 2010