There's a CERTain danger to this job...
Hard Moments
Sometimes, in our line of work, we have to experience an huge loss. A life. Below is an story from one of our officers that experienced such an traumatic event, but still remains strong.
Me and an CERT operative was working late at night when we heard the department calling for a code 1 at Cassidy creek. They recieved heavy fire and we joined JTAC and assisted. They didnt tell if they were down or up, so we went down. They took out our wheels, then we crashed. Me and the CERT operative got out and returned fire. The CERT operative recieved heavy injuries while I was able to return fire and take down 2 criminals. We then got flanked by criminals, and I got shot and injured. Due to the destructive nature, it was enough for SD and PD to push down to the river and breaking through the criminals defenses. I watched the CERT operative die, but I was saved by my fellow officers in another department. / Captain Randy Lee
Me and an CERT operative was working late at night when we heard the department calling for a code 1 at Cassidy creek. They recieved heavy fire and we joined JTAC and assisted. They didnt tell if they were down or up, so we went down. They took out our wheels, then we crashed. Me and the CERT operative got out and returned fire. The CERT operative recieved heavy injuries while I was able to return fire and take down 2 criminals. We then got flanked by criminals, and I got shot and injured. Due to the destructive nature, it was enough for SD and PD to push down to the river and breaking through the criminals defenses. I watched the CERT operative die, but I was saved by my fellow officers in another department. / Captain Randy Lee
Not a leg to stand on
I was attempting to assist a "cannibal" in the cellblock, I can't remember too much about the situation as it was a while ago now. He attempted to bite my ear and I tried to shove him off but he was too strong for me and ended up biting my ear.
I am a very resilient person, so the impact of this wasn't too mentally draining for me, however I did have to have treatment for my ear and therefore this had an impact on my hearing for a few days.
Looking back on it, this man was insane and should probably not be allowed near others. I always try to approach others with a compassionate view, which I did in this case however it backfired for me. I would not change this view I have though as I believe everyone should be treated nicely no matter what they have done to end up here. / Anonymous Officer
I am a very resilient person, so the impact of this wasn't too mentally draining for me, however I did have to have treatment for my ear and therefore this had an impact on my hearing for a few days.
Looking back on it, this man was insane and should probably not be allowed near others. I always try to approach others with a compassionate view, which I did in this case however it backfired for me. I would not change this view I have though as I believe everyone should be treated nicely no matter what they have done to end up here. / Anonymous Officer
Life or Death
CERT Operatives often see the worst of the worst when it comes to threats and dangerous situations within the DOC. Each of their actions in these situations could mean the difference between life or death, which is an incredibly difficult burden to carry. All of our Operatives go through extensive training and a rigorous application process before becoming full Operatives. During this time, CERT leadership works closely to develop these Operatives' skills and provide them with the information they need to cope with the stress of their work. This also gives CERT leadership an opportunity to screen for potential issues that may impact an individual's ability to perform their duties.
This process continues well beyond the promotion to Operative, as CERT conducts additional training sessions and requires paperwork to be filled out after each operation so that leadership can once again assess our team members' abilities and ensure they are able to continue with the job. Furthermore, and this speaks to your next question as well, CERT, just like the SADOC as a whole, is a team. We treat each other like family and look out for each other like family. Everyone in CERT knows firsthand what it's like to be in a stressful and dangerous situation, and that allows us to connect deeply with our fellow team members. Part of that connection is recognizing when someone needs help and making sure to start a conversation with that person and get them professional help if needed.
It's much easier to maintain composure in stressful situations if you are able to work through exactly what happened post-op. A major issue in law enforcement and public safety since its inception has been the fear that being human and impacted by your work is looked down upon by others. However, at the SADOC, we encourage people to get help when they need it and talk about what's bothering them rather than letting it build up. That's when issues start to arise, which is exactly what we want to avoid by being proactive about our Operatives' mental health. / Oliver Dutch, CERT Command member.
This process continues well beyond the promotion to Operative, as CERT conducts additional training sessions and requires paperwork to be filled out after each operation so that leadership can once again assess our team members' abilities and ensure they are able to continue with the job. Furthermore, and this speaks to your next question as well, CERT, just like the SADOC as a whole, is a team. We treat each other like family and look out for each other like family. Everyone in CERT knows firsthand what it's like to be in a stressful and dangerous situation, and that allows us to connect deeply with our fellow team members. Part of that connection is recognizing when someone needs help and making sure to start a conversation with that person and get them professional help if needed.
It's much easier to maintain composure in stressful situations if you are able to work through exactly what happened post-op. A major issue in law enforcement and public safety since its inception has been the fear that being human and impacted by your work is looked down upon by others. However, at the SADOC, we encourage people to get help when they need it and talk about what's bothering them rather than letting it build up. That's when issues start to arise, which is exactly what we want to avoid by being proactive about our Operatives' mental health. / Oliver Dutch, CERT Command member.
Why do we do it?
We can say for sure that the life of a SADOC officer can be dangerous and have life-lasting consequences. Some of us have lost an ear, others a chunk of their leg. There are a lot of stories tied to lifelong damage as well as mental trauma. But, where there is darkness, there also has to be a light. Many officers have positively connected with inmates, even after hostile situations. We should build trust and show that we aim to help people, not hurt them. We have seen several felons taking our help and becoming strong, productive members of Los Santos, ranging from mechanics and taxi drivers to SADOC officers!
So, to answer the question, why do we do it? We want to help people, assist those who feel like society abandoned them, and be that hand reaching out to assist when everything is dark. That is the first step to a brighter tomorrow. We believe that people can change, which is always worth encouraging.
So, to answer the question, why do we do it? We want to help people, assist those who feel like society abandoned them, and be that hand reaching out to assist when everything is dark. That is the first step to a brighter tomorrow. We believe that people can change, which is always worth encouraging.
CDRILS The code by which we are allowed to breathe
Everything in DOC is built on the same foundation (it is not a cursed burial ground, as much as the conspirators claim it to be). From that foundation, we grow and maintain our wonderful and important organisation.
The CDRILS are among the first things we teach our new COs, as they guide our behaviour and ensure that someone else always has our back within the DOC. We act courageously when things are frightening so our officers can make it home safely. Our discipline allows us to turn to tried and true protocol, designed specifically to allow us to handle situations in ways we know to work. Respect for other officers and inmates helps with empathy and shows dividends in our daily interactions that are mostly incredibly positive. However, when you are part of a team that is strong in integrity and loyalty, respect comes easily. It seems that at the DOC, when the chips are down, we are akin to an army of ants, all ready to selfishly give for the hive (and our queen; praise Kourtney).
This structured gallantry would not have been possible without our CDRILS, our core values. For that reason, calling this worst-kept secret our skeleton key for getting through any obstacle is hardly an overstatement, and I could not be more grateful for their existence.
The CDRILS are among the first things we teach our new COs, as they guide our behaviour and ensure that someone else always has our back within the DOC. We act courageously when things are frightening so our officers can make it home safely. Our discipline allows us to turn to tried and true protocol, designed specifically to allow us to handle situations in ways we know to work. Respect for other officers and inmates helps with empathy and shows dividends in our daily interactions that are mostly incredibly positive. However, when you are part of a team that is strong in integrity and loyalty, respect comes easily. It seems that at the DOC, when the chips are down, we are akin to an army of ants, all ready to selfishly give for the hive (and our queen; praise Kourtney).
This structured gallantry would not have been possible without our CDRILS, our core values. For that reason, calling this worst-kept secret our skeleton key for getting through any obstacle is hardly an overstatement, and I could not be more grateful for their existence.
Randy Lee
Captain of Operations, Assistant Head Of Public Relations
San Andreas Department of Corrections
[email protected]
Lucy Fox
Captain of Administration , Public Relations Promoter
San Andreas Department of Corrections
[email protected]
