NDCCA Correctional Officer of the Year for 2024

Brock Charette is the NDCCA Correctional Officer of the Year for 2024.

He moved here from Rolette, ND, where he was a shift supervisor at the Rolette County Correctional Facility. The position at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center was an opportunity for him for advancement. “I’ve learned a lot,” he told the Journal, “but I still have a lot to learn.”

He said he would like to see some more positive changes at the LEC including more programs for inmates. “There is always room for improvement,” he said, “in some ways it’s like customer services and business managment that we studied in school. Everyone is different, How can we improve on what we do? We are all in this together.”

His biggest complaint currently is the high rate of turnover and finding good people to fill openings in their staff. They rotate shifts and ideally would have five CO’s per shift but they currently have four per shift, which is an improvement, but not fully staffed. “I like it here,” Charette says. In his life outside of work at the LEC he is a server at Proz Lakeside, and he enjoyes summer volleyball and golfing in his spare time.

Nominated by the staff of the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center Corrections, Charette received high praise from his fellow corrections officers, supervising Captain and other leadership on staff.

Emily Foss, nurse provider at the LEC, said, “Brock stands out in the corrections profession and it is my honor to highlight his deserving qualities.”

“Brock has been employed with Lake Region Law Enforcement Center for 2 years, bringing 5 years of corrections experience from his time at Rolette County Correctional Facility. In his time with the LRLEC, Brock has worked in the day shifte sergeant position and recently was promoted to the role of Lieutenant.”

“Brock has an eagerness to make sure things are as they should be on his shift. Rounds, bookings, correctional officer conduct and professionalism are areas he focuses on consistently every shift he works. He has an approachable personality, making him a perfect person to work with arresting agencies, courts, inmates, families and coworkers. He is able to establish rapport and positive working relationships through his initial encounters with others. These relationships follow him outside of work. He is an avid dart player and is asked to substitute on many teams. He can get along with anyone and has the ability to develop friendships quickly. When he is not working at LRLEC, he is working at Proz Lakeside or spends time with his four children. He never rests!”

“Brock is a natural born leader who is given respect without demanding it. When needs to train or give constructive criticism to his reporting staff, he remains professional and up front. He has a gift of bringing staff together and improving morale by the simple yet important thing he does. He is the first to volunteer for potlucks bringing taco meat or breakfast skillets, etc…. While others may find these gestures trivial, those who work in the high stress area of corrections understand the impact the “little things” have on a shift. Brock’s staff would walk through fire for him, and he in turn would do the same for them.”

“Brock has been the recipient of two life saver awards for his quick action in two separate incidents at the LEC …. Due to his fast response and quick action, he saved two inmates’ lives.”

Foss adds, “In Brock’s newest role, Lieutenant, it has been amazing to watch him naturally fall into a higher level of leadership. In his forst week he was implementing more ways to utilize communication tools in our Central Square program. He has been a mentor, especially to our younger male staff, coming in during night shifts to provide hands on, in the moment training. His coworkers never know when he will be here – in a good way! Brock will come in on weekends, nights, early mornings just so he can have that contact and interaction with all shifts. When a shift is short, he seamlessly fills the role of Sergeant, booking officer, control officer or working the floor. He has even been seen with a paint brush touching up the facility so it looks its best. The sergeant that filled the role he left vacant after his promotion has also taken to her role quickly and effectively. Thus is a testament to the training and mentoring Brock gave to this employee when she was a CO on his shift.”

“Brock is trusted by the inmates, as well. There have been several examples of inmates getting significant sentences. When they return to their cells they ask to speak to Brock. Inmates know that when Brock speaks with them they are going to get a staff member who is honest, fail, level ehaded, respectfulk and emphathetic. they also know that he has clear boundaries and they do not test those. He truly has a calling for the work he does and Lake Region Enforcement Center is better because Brock followed his calling.”

Foss concludes her recommendation letter with, “To summarize, Brock brings things that cannot be taught to his role at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center. He continues to exceed expectations and bring the organization to higher levels of standard and conduct by simply doing what he does.”