

Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Zeckhausen, Chief of Information & P.R.Members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation today announced the award of $808,864 to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) by the U.S. Please send suggestions for future topics and feedback to: Tracey E. The public doesn’t realize the level of danger or the fact that the small percentage of officers who make ‘the big money’ work a tremen- continued on page 5 - The RIDOC Review is published quarterly by the Office of the Director. People on the outside don’t realize what goes on here.” Steve finds it frustrating that a few high profile situations have shaped public perceptions of CO’s in the state, noting, “It doesn’t make the paper when our guys rou- tinely break up or prevent fights. Asked what he thinks the general public should know about the role of a Correctional Officer, Steve says, “It’s a different world here from the outside. 8 - *Corrections Options enjoyed in large part because of the officers who shared that post with him. 6 - *Score Program *Culture Change Project P. He spent several years prior to that working in the Segregation Unit, something he In This Issue. Steve recently served as the Moran Facility’s Security Specialist (which includes oversight of the facility’s fences and alarms, vehicles, keys, and radios) on a three-day rule but is now back to his post as Key Control Officer, a position he has held for about six years. He is now encouraging his sons to be active in local sports as well and he serves as president of the Burrillville Little League. He coached the Burrillville High School football team (on which he had played in high school) for 13 years and helped lead them to three state championships. It enables him to be home when his sons get home from school and to coach them in basketball and baseball. Steve’s two sons, Jeffrey and Nicholas, ages 9 and 11, are his pride and joy and the main reason his schedule as a Correctional Officer fits so well with his family life. He took a five year break from military service and then returned to the Air Guard for another five years.

Steve Pichie Steve spent 11 years in the Reserves, traveling to a variety of destinations around the world, including Norway, for brief two-week stints. “It’s a different world here from the outside. Steve Pichie in uniform and (at right) in various coaching situations. He then moved to the Donald Price Facility and finally to Medium Moran when it first opened, and he’s been there ever since. Steve got his start at the High Security Center, where he spent his first six months on the job.

Back then, the Academy training took place at the National Guard building across from the Pastore Complex on New London Avenue. Classes were much smaller than they are today, and Steve was one of about 22 to graduate and go on line in July of 1988. A friend’s dad had called to tell him about the opportunity and although he knew of only one person who worked for the Department, he decided to give it a shot. III, Issue 1 CO Spotlight: Steve Pichie Steve Pichie was fresh out of the Marine Corps when he joined the RIDOC’s Training Academy Class 50 at the young age of 20. RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RIDOC REVIEW A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR EMPLOYEES AND FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTMENT Winter 2009 Vol.
