By Ananda Shorey, The Associated Press
BUCKEYE, Ariz. (AP) -- As the hours turned into days, and two inmates continued to hold a pair of correctional officers hostage here, crisis counselors worked to help keep Department of Corrections staff and anxious family members from panicking.
These Corrections Department volunteer counselors are used whenever such situations arise to help people deal with emotional reactions, which can interfere with their ability to function either at the scene or later, officials said.
Such assistance is vital to retain staff in a job where retention is already an issue, said Ivan Bartos, warden of the Yuma state prison.
Counselors were activated here at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis after the two officers were taken hostage Sunday, and at the other state prisons.
“We believe that being a corrections officer in a prison is one of the most stressful lines of work out there,” said Bartos, who has been assisting in the Buckeye standoff. “We want to retain our staff. We know that they are exposed to a lot of negativity.”
Hostage situations can be especially traumatic for staff because they know the people involved and realize they could be in the hostages’ place, Bartos said.
As negotiations to free the officers continued, counselors tried to prevent depression, panic, confusion, anxiety and grief from setting in. They also explained to the staff what resources were available.
And they made themselves available for one-on-one time with the staff, many of whom don’t want to appear weak in front of inmates or co-workers.
“They are torn between human emotion and demands their profession puts on them,” Bartos said.
The prison complex has been locked down since Sunday. Staff members were allowed to leave as others replaced them. But leaving wasn’t easy for some who knew their co-workers were in harms way.
“We have staff that have trouble walking away,” said Cam Hunter, a department spokeswoman.
Even after a crisis subsides, counselors continue working.
“A lot of times these feelings don’t manifest themselves until the incident is over,” Bartos said.