Always Working
Rick Shaffer draws upon his background in radio as warden of the Butler County Prison.
“This job is all communications,” he said.
Shaffer said anyone who can't deal with other people — whether it be inmates and their families, staff or government officials — shouldn't work at a prison.
When Shaffer entered the field of corrections in 1989, he was prepared.
He received a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Edinboro University in 1982.
Shaffer subsequently became the overnight host for the former radio station Magic 97 FM in Braddock, Allegheny County. The station eventually became 96.9 BOB-FM.
He said the problem with the job was overnight disc jockeys had no leverage — ratings weren't recorded during that time period.
Popular disc jockeys cite high ratings when lobbying for more money. Shaffer hoped to reach that position after paying his dues.
However, he became disgruntled. He still was earning $12,000 a year five years later despite being promised a raise.
“We decided it would be best to end the relationship,” Shaffer said.
He then became a presenter for the Bradford School of business while deciding what his next step should be.
Shaffer had friends in law enforcement who encouraged him to enter their field.
He found what he initially believed would be a transitional of becoming a police officer.
Meanwhile, former college classmate Rich Gigliotti was appointed warden of the Butler prison.
The county was opening an annex to the overcrowding prison, so Gigliotti was hiring more staff in 1989.
Shaffer decided to become a corrections officer while attaining the necessary certifications to become a police officer.
Working at the prison convinced Shaffer he found his true calling. He worked his way up the ladder, reaching the top spot when Gigliotti retired last year.
“Here we are 24 years later,” Shaffer said.Although he enjoyed working for Gigliotti, Shaffer has grown accustomed to being the person in charge.“I'm always working,” Shaffer said.He uses technology to stay in touch by checking work e-mails every day from wherever he goes.While Shaffer handles much of prison business through the Internet when he's outside the building, more serious issues — incidents involving the use of force and incidents requiring that an inmate leave the building for some reason other than a routine transport — still are relayed by phone for expediency's sake.When Shaffer assumed the post, he unsuccessfully tried establishing a routine. He soon learned the nature of corrections made that impossible.“Different things come up at inopportune times and must be dealt with in a timely manner,” Shaffer said. “This happens every day.”Although he enjoys his job, there is a downside to running the prison.Shaffer said such issues as lawsuits take up time he could spend on the facility's daily operations. Much of his time is spent attending meetings and court hearings.Since first working at the prison, Shaffer believes he has grown as a person and leader.“I've learned to not be so judgmental,” he said. “Things aren't always what they seem. Everyone has a story and until you've walked in their shoes, you really don't know what causes people to do the things they do. It can be a humbling experience.”The prison, which is on South Washington Street, opened in 2009 to accommodate a growing inmate population.The building has space for 560 inmate beds. As of the end of March, there were a total of 357 inmates.Seven of the total nine housing pods are operational.Shaffer said the former prison, which was built in the 1950s, was designed to hold 50 prisoners.He said the old prison, which was on Vogely Street, was the traditional linear style. The current prison has direct supervision with a corrections officer in each inmate pod 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.Shaffer, who headed the transition team for switching facilities, had a head start on the new prison's design and updated procedures for the new building.The prison, which houses both male and female inmates, has work release and community service programs for eligible prisoners.Shaffer oversees a nearly $10.3 million budget.Along with acclimating to a new building, Shaffer has experienced changes in the corrections field.He said there's been a complete 180-degree turn since the late 1980s.“We tend to work toward programming now to keep people from coming back to jail,” Shaffer said.He cited such methods to reach that goal as inmate re-entry into society and alternative punishments, including house arrest and electronic monitoring.Technology also has played a role in how corrections has evolved.“There have been advances in the tools of the trade, such as Tasers, chemical munitions and (other) less-than-lethal weapons that did not exist 25 years ago,” Shaffer said. “Back then, it was pretty much riot batons and basic defensive tactics.”Since working at the prison, he has had two deaths occur during his shifts.“One was a suicide and one was a medical issue,” Shaffer said. “That's something you never forget.”Last year he participating in Leadership Butler County, which taught him the importance of building relationships.“Relationships have a tremendous effect on leadership,” he said. “You have a better chance of having a positive influence on people if you have personal relationships with them rather than treating them as a group.”Shaffer said people will be more receptive if they feel their opinions matter as individuals.He demonstrates leadership by having as much direct contact as possible with people at work and events.“You can't lead people through e-mails and phone calls,” Shaffer said.
<b>Define leadership:</b>Motivating and guiding people to accomplish things they wouldn't have thought possible on their own.Former NFL coach Vince Lombardi because he was a great motivator.<b>Name: </b>Rick Shaffer<b>Age: </b>52<b>Residence: </b>Cranberry Township<b>Family:</b> Wife, Robin; children, Derek, Nick and Madison<b>Job title: </b>Warden of the Butler County Prison<b>Employer: </b>Butler County<b>Job site: </b>Butler<b>Employees: </b>115
