By Ashley Quadros, Public Information Officer
Katrina Putman moved to Grass Valley in second grade and has been a local face around town ever since. As an adolescent, she always valued law enforcement and thought maybe one day she’d wear a uniform, but fate took her in a different direction, at least initially.
For 16 years, she worked as a certified nursing assistant, principally in a telemetry unit caring for heart and stroke patients. As rewarding as her job was, as time went on, she felt something was missing and wanted more.
“I was at a crossroads personally and professionally when I evaluated the direction I wanted my career to go,” she explained. “I longed for a career in law enforcement. I had always wanted to work in law enforcement, and my search led me to corrections.”
When she came across a job posting for a correctional officer at Wayne Brown Correctional Facility, she decided to apply. The application process included not only an interview and background check, but written and physical agility tests.
“The area of most importance and where there is the most difficulty is having lower-body strength,” she explained of the agility testing. “Running, lunges and the dummy drag all require good leg strength.”
Correctional Officer Putnam excelled on all accounts and joined the team three years ago. As a correctional officer, she still fulfills her passion of helping people, but instead of serving ill hospital patients, she helps incarcerated individuals take steps to redefine their lives. For the last two years, she’s worked as a transportation officer. In this role, she drives incarcerated persons to and from court appointments and to other county jails and prisons throughout California. She is also a member of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT members respond to circumstances where a dangerous situation could arise or is a present threat. They are trained in cell extractions, tactical entries, and high-risk transportation scenarios with a goal to maintain orderly conduct and/or defuse any situation peacefully. Her ability to multi-task, pay careful attention to detail, problem solve, and manage stress are just some of the key traits needed to excel as a correctional officer, but even with these skills, challenging days still arise.
“I think the most challenging part about being a CO is dealing with IPs (incarcerated persons) who have mental health issues,” she said. “It can be difficult to help manage a person who is struggling with behavioral or emotional issues and the unpredictability that goes along with that. Having co-workers and supervisors that have your back and knowing that you are in it together, make getting through the day that much better.”
Even with a few hard days peppered in, the good days still outweigh the bad and the personal rewards gained by helping others improve their lives continue to pay out in dividends.
“I run into former IPs all the time. They are always happy to tell me how good they are doing and the positive things that are happening in their lives,” she said. “Seeing former IPs out in the community being productive and successful makes me feel happy to know that people are capable of change. They just have to believe in themselves.”
Thank you, Correctional Officer Putnam, for believing in incarcerated individuals and giving many the motivation they need to rewrite their own paths.
