Wayne G. Gladding of the Handlon Training Unit is the 1990 Officer of the Year. He was chosen for the honor by a committee of the Michigan Correctional Officers' Training Council.

Every prison and field service region nominates an individual for the title, and that list is narrowed down to five by a committee of custody and security staff, the MCO and the Department's training division.

The finalists were: John Wahr or Muskegon Temporary, Herbert C. Boyle of Marquette, Yvonne Ogston of Kinross and Shirley L. Viera of Thumb.

Gladding works in the four-gate area between the administration building and the inside of the prison and manages the prison's visiting room, the search of prisoners and visitors, and oversees the flow of traffic through the gates. He also is a first aid and CPR trainer and is assigned to work with new officers during their on-the-job training.

Gladding also does volunteer work in the community and has been active in the Ionia County Hospice and the Portland Food Bank.

Director Brown said Gladding "is often called on by shift command to respond to potentially volatile situations and is often able to calmly de-escalate such situations before they become dangerous." He does this, Brown said, by "having a calming effect in these types of situations."

In announcing the officer selection, Director Brown said: "The caliber of these men and women is representative of the outstanding quality of our corrections officers in general. The citizens of our state should take pride in the men and women who work in their prisons and halfway houses. They are very capable, professional and dedicated career employees."