By Ashley Quadros, Public Information officer
For Correctional Officer Bradley Salbashian, the idea of working in law enforcement, let alone a jail, was never high on his priority list. He had a steady job in construction but one day a former correctional officer from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office encouraged him to apply for an open position. After giving it some thought, he decided to go for it.
“I was hesitant and timid about applying for a position as a CO (correctional officer) since I’ve never had any experience in the field before,” he explained. “I am glad that I took this opportunity to apply for the position because of all the new experiences and things I’ve learned that I can apply to my daily life. There is a lot of information to take in when you first start out; later down the line it becomes like second nature.”
Since joining the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility team in 2022, Officer Salbashian quickly became accustomed to jail life. Certain functions are routine and dependable, such as checking on incarcerated persons, logging and completing safety checks, and answering questions from incarcerated individuals, but much of the job requires the ability to react to situations and problem solve on the spot, the latter of which has been a natural calling.
“My most favorite part of being a CO is that no day is the same; there is always something to learn and a new and different way to handle any situation,” he said.
In addition, he’s found that many of the incarcerated people he’s served are grateful for his understanding and support to turn their lives around.
“While working at the jail, a previously incarcerated individual had called and when I answered the phone, they remembered who I was and excitedly shared with me that they were doing really well and had started to get their life back together,” he said.
Similarly, while out and about in the community, bumping into formerly incarcerated individuals is always pleasant and serves as a reminder that his job matters.
“I haven’t had a negative experience with running into an IP (incarcerated person) within the community,” he said. “I have run into multiple former IPs and they always greet me and tell me about all the accomplishments they’ve had and how well things have been since they were released.”
Knowing his work in the jail directly contributes to the betterment of others has inspired him to advance his career in law enforcement and public service.
“My next goal is to work my way towards becoming a deputy so I can be out on the street and more involved with my community,” he said. “You never will know the great things you can do unless you apply yourself.”
Thank you, Correctional Officer Salbashian, for applying yourself day in and day out and for opening your heart to public service.
