Coffee With a Cop By Michelle Williams, Deputy Clerk / Senior Administrative Assistant
With such a full workload as the Sergeant for Court Security, Sergeant Mike Garrison wasn ’ t able to physically meet with me for coffee and conversation, but he opened up about his tenure with the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office and his upcoming retirement where he ’ ll be hanging up his gun belt after nearly seventeen (17) years of service. Don ’ t believe everything you see on television about deputies who work in the Court Security Division. Maybe not all jurisdictions are the same, but here in Orange County, these honorable men and women do much more than stand quietly at the
front of the courtroom. Sergeant Garrison explained that their division is responsible for, “ the movement of all prisoners, including prisoners held in other jurisdictions on Orange [County] charges, and security of the entire Courthouse, as well as each judge. One thing that the public may not know is that Court Security is also responsible for all mental health ECOs (Emergency Custody Orders) and TDOs (Temporary Detention Orders); this may include taking [mental] health patients across the state to whichever hospital the RRCSB (Rappahannock - Rapidan Community Services Board) has chosen. ” These deputies take turn being on - call and may receive a call from the Emergency Communications Center in the middle of the night to go sit at a hospital with a patient until a bed is found which could be up to 72 hours. Sergeant Garrison was working as a mechanic in his native Madison County before he started in corrections and then became a law enforcement officer. “[ I] realized that at this point in my life, I needed a job that offered insurance, as well as a good retirement package, ” stated Garrison. “ I knew someone who was working at CVRJ (Central Virginia Regional Jail) and felt like that was something I could do and applied. From there, it took off to where I am now. ” Everyone wants to know the most memorable event during a law enforcement officer ’ s career. For Sergeant Garrison, the lyrics from Alan Jackson ’ s song Where Were You ring true. “ I was transporting an inmate for CVRJ in
Washington, D.C. on the day the plane struck the Pentagon. It took me around 9 hours to get back to Orange. I will never forget hearing the news on the radio and thinking that I hope everyone was ok, ” Garrison reflected. Now, if you have ever talked to Sergeant Garrison, you can appreciate what his response was when I asked him what the funniest thing was he had ever seen while on duty. As I read his response, I could literally hear the southern drawl and see him with a smirk on his face! “ I have seen many funny things happen in court and dealing with prisoners, but they are inappropriate for polite conversation such as this. People say the darndest things. ” And with that response, you can guess what he believes his strength to be when it comes to his job … “ My good sense of humor. Sometimes, in this job, you see and hear things that you wish you didn ’ t and one way that we handle it is to joke around and get your mind off [of] it. ” So, what does a seasoned law enforcement officer do when he retires? Garrison said he plans to do, “ A little farming, a little logging, and a whole lot of time in Hatteras, North Carolina. ” Sergeant Mike Garrison, Orange County wishes you much deserved happiness and relaxation in your retirement! Thank you for your years of dedicated service.
Photo courtesy of the Orange County Sheriff ’ s Office, 2015
Page 8 | November, 2021
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