Detention officers key piece of law enforcement community

Sheila McGuire, Herald Reporter
Posted 5/11/18

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Detention officers key piece of law enforcement community

Posted

EVANSTON — When asked if they like their jobs, Brenden Morrow and Brandi Jones both answered without hesitation. They love them. 

Morrow and Jones work as detention officers at the Uinta County Detention Center, a job they feel may not be recognized by the community as a crucial piece of law enforcement. The two have both been working in their positions since 2008 and joke they’ve grown up together. 

Jones and Morrow said they are constantly busy at work. Currently there are about 65 inmates detained at the jail, and 12 officers to see to their needs and maintain safety.

“It’s a 24-hour facility,” Morrow said, “so that means nights, weekends and holidays, our staff have to be there.” 

Jones, who is married with two kids and a third on the way, said she does “a little bit of everything” in her position. That includes ensuring safety and security at the facility, transporting inmates to court appointments, bookings and paperwork, among other duties. 

She said she loves helping people and emphasizes “treating people like they’re people.” 

Morrow, a married father of four, primarily works as the healthcare coordinator for inmates. He facilitates medical appointments, ensures needed medications are ordered and on hand, transports inmates to appointments locally and in Utah when necessary, files paperwork, and anything and everything inmates may require from a healthcare standpoint. 

He said the detention officers see a bit of everything when it comes to the health of inmates. One of the biggest issues is mental health care. Morrow said with the Wyoming State Hospital and a couple of different facilities in town that work with patients with mental health issues, there are frequently people arrested who have mental health problems. “We’re not mental health professionals, but we have to try to meet their needs,” he said. 

To meet those needs, Morrow said professionals from High Country Behavioral Health work with inmates. From a general healthcare standpoint, a physician makes weekly visits to the jail. 

Brenden said he enjoys the diversity of the job, and said he especially enjoys it “when you see people with addiction recover and become productive.” 

The two said they are part of a tight-knit and supportive law enforcement community. Morrow said that all aspects of law enforcement within Uinta County are great to work with, and Jones said that is particularly the case when it comes to women in law enforcement, as she is one of a handful of female officers in the county. 

She and Morrow both said their families are very supportive and see the law enforcement aspect. “Laws are broken in jail too,” said Morrow, to which Jones added, “They’re pretty crafty. They have all day to sit there and come up with things.” 

While the community may not always recognize their contributions and crucial role, there are some who are firmly behind the pair. “My kids think it’s pretty cool,” said Morrow. With a smile, Jones said, “My kids think it’s awesome.”