Dennis R. Poole, 34, of Jackson, is the 1987 Corrections Officer of the Year for the Michigan Department of Corrections. Poole is an officer at the Central Complex of the State Prison of Southern Michigan (SPSM) near Jackson.

Runners up were: Robert Kyle Browning, 39, of Chelsea, an officer at Cassidy Lake Technical School near Chelsea; Dean Thomas, 29, of Detroit, an officer at Huron Valley Men's Facility near Ypsilanti.

All three officers will be honored by the Department at a special ceremony later this summer. Poole will be given a trip to the annual congress of the American Correctional Association in New Orleans and he, Thomas and Browning will be quests at the annual conference of the Michigan Corrections Association this fall in Grand Rapids.

State Corrections Director Robert Brown, Jr. said Poole was chosen "because of his consistent, steady, level-headed approach to handling the difficult situations that occur routinely in Four Block at SPSM." Four Block houses about 500 prisoners, many of whom are management problems.

In addition, Brown said, Poole has distinguished himself in the community by volunteering to supervise a recreational basketball program for the Jackson school district.

Poole also earned special recognition from the Jackson Fire Department for helping save three children from a house fire on February 22, 1987.

He has been with the Department and SPSM since February of 1985 and has worked continuously in Four Block.

In nominating Poole for the award, officials at SPSM said he: "toils daily to provide a safe but regulated environment for the prisoner population in that block. He maintains the respect and admiration of his fellow officers."

Poole is married and has a daughter. He graduated from Grand Valley College with a bachelor's degree in 1977. Before joining the Department he worked for Jackson Community College as the student program coordinator for the prison program.

Browning has been with the Department since May, 1969, when he started as an officer at the Michigan Parole Camp near Jackson. He also has been a transportation officer at Camp Waterloo.

In nominating Browning, Warden John Staten said Browning "has been instrumental in improving relations between the institution and the community."

"Mr. Browning often responds to the institution on his own time, without pay, to search for escapees and has been successful in apprehending several of them."

Thomas has been at Huron Valley Men's Facility since 1984, when he first joined the Department.

In nominating Thomas, Warden Gene E. Borgert said "Thomas has demonstrated exceptional communications skills. He has defused many potentially volatile situations involving prisoners."

Thomas was one of two officers seriously stabbed during a 1985 fracas at the men's facility. Warden Borgert said he "proceeded to do his job, taking the necessary actions, under extremely dangerous circumstances."

"If I had an institution fully staffed with people of the caliber of Dean Thomas, it would be the most efficiently-operated, clean and save work environment in the history of corrections in this state," Borgert said.

This is the third year that the Department has selected an officer for special recognition. Among the criteria used to determine the award are involvement with the community, leadership qualities, communications skills and use of sick leave.