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A month after graduating from Brown Mackie College - Louisville in 2007 with an associate's degree in Criminal Justice, Brandon Mattingly began his professional career as a corrections officer at the Marion Adjustment Center in St. Mary, Kentucky. Six months later, he accepted an opportunity to train for the facility's Special Operations Response (SOR) team. Usually reserved for those who have completed a full year of service, the immediate offer to join the SOR team came as a testament to Brandon's solid education and on-the-job professionalism.
Brandon's path to success was not always as easy. He worked full time while earning his degree, and drove two hours to attend classes at Brown Mackie College - Louisville. In the beginning, three students from his hometown were also enrolled, and the four friends shared the driving. One by one, the friends dropped away from the demanding travel schedule, leaving Brandon to make the drive alone - sometimes four days a week.
For his externship, Brandon secured placement at the Sheriff's Department in Washington County, Kentucky. There he observed the daily rigors of law enforcement and gained experience by serving as bailiff for a day in Washington County Court. "I was a little nervous," Brandon said. "The purpose of the bailiff is to protect the judge."
In addition to joining the SOR team, Brandon was promoted to Property Room Manager at the Marion Adjustment Center. Organization and record keeping are key components of his new position. "It's a lot of responsibility. We've got 835 inmates, and I keep track of everyone's belongings," he said. Brandon manages the property room with the help of an inmate who has earned the right to work in a higher trust capacity than most inmates. "I've got to keep an eye on him, too," said Brandon.
Reflecting on his career experience, Brandon said, "It was rough at first, but once you earn respect from the inmates, it gets easier. When you work around criminals, you watch your back. I've developed the habit of looking at the inmates' hands for weapons."
As a member of the SOR team, Brandon participates in weeklong, military-style training sessions four times a year. Training involves physical conditioning, combat drills, riot scenarios, and the use of firearms. The team remains on call 24/7, responding in the event of an escape or disturbance at the facility, during routine surprise searches, and for any type of natural disaster that affects the facility.
"I'm glad I stuck to it, and graduated," Brandon said. "I don't think Brown Mackie College - Louisville gets the credit it deserves. The faculty was great. They helped pull me through at different times." Brandon was known on campus as a smart guy and a southern gentleman. True to character, he succinctly summed up his thoughts on the inmates at the facility. "They may be offenders," he said, "but they are still people."
Personal Attention, Professional Growth
www.brownmackie.edu
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