Payton Thomas

As a Correctional Officer at the Weber County Sheriff's Office, I have primarily worked as a Housing Deputy. The average shift of a Housing Deputy requires 2-3 Deputies to manage a post of 100-300 inmates. The inmate population of any of the jail's four posts may vary.

In such an outnumbered environment it is imperative that a Deputy properly follows all trained policies and procedures, is observant and aware of their surroundings, and is proficient in common sense to maintain the safety and security of the facility.

Skills I Employ/Day-to-Day Duties:

• Make routine security checks.
• Ensure the health, safety, and security of all inmates.
• Ensure all inmates are fed at designated hours.
• Problem solve using trained practices, jail policy, and common sense.
• Daily crisis management.
• Investigate/interview inmates or staff during incidents.
• De-escalate conflicts with inmates whenever possible.
• Use of radio communication/use of 10-Code.
• Work on SOG (Special Operations Group) incidents to manage dangerous inmates with weapons or covered in biohazardous materials.
• Perform full cell, dorm, and area searches.
• Perform frisk, pat-down, and strip searches on inmates.
• Physically restrain and deploy defensive tactics on non-compliant inmates.
• Cuff/fully restrain inmates using basic cuffs, shackles, chains, padlocks, black boxes, and restraint chairs.
• Manage a pod and my team as an Acting Corporal on days in which a Corporal is absent and I am the senior Deputy.
• Perform life-saving measures/trained medical practices in the event of an emergency.
• Escort/move inmates across the facility when necessary.
• Take inmates’ fingerprints.
• Properly follow the booking/releasing process of inmates.
• Document and serve write-ups to inmates when jail rules are broken.
• Ensure all logs are completed with proper documentation.
• Document any and all medical events, uses of force, or other incidents using bucket-style report writing.