Arresting personality

Pettis County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Atwood manages the lives of more than 100 people everyday.

Atwood supervises the Pettis County Jail, where he has worked for the past 11 years. Atwood said his responsibilities include going through arrests every morning, ensuring inmates are arraigned, managing court bailiffs and handling inmate transportation.

Along with those duties, Atwood said much of what he does changes from day to day. One day he may break up a fight, and the next he may help an inmate apply for a job to re-enter the community at the end of a jail sentence.

“Anything could happen,” Atwood said. “It is never the same, it just depends on what the day brings.”

Atwood commutes to work from Ionia, where he lives with his wife, Lisa, their three daughters and granddaughter. He said his family has always been very supportive, despite the element of danger associated with his work.

Before working at the jail, Atwood worked for seven years as a heavy equipment operator on construction projects. He said “there is no comparison” to working at the jail.

“When you’re working in the jail, it’s kind of like a little city,” Atwood said.

He must always be attentive to the criminal activity, legal issues and medical needs of the 105 inmates incarcerated at the jail. He said the job was overwhelming at first, but through time and training he has become accustomed to the jail environment, including its labyrinthine unmarked halls designed to disorient potential escapees.

“I’ve been in it long enough that I have gotten used to it,” Atwood said.

Still, the burden of managing the lives of more than 100 inmates leaves little time for lounging.

“Sometimes I feel like there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done,” Atwood said. “Once you do one thing, it seems like there’s four more things that come up.”

Sheriff’s Capt. Sam Hargrave, Pettis County Jail administrator, said Atwood probably knows the jail better than anyone. Atwood has a lot on his plate but manages to stay on top of all of his responsibilities, Hargrave said.

“It’s not a small task. Officers on the street handle them (inmates) for an hour or two, but we handle them 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Hargrave said. “You have to meet their needs everyday.”

Hargrave said he knows his job and is committed to doing it well everyday.

“I commend him. I am very thankful to have him,” Hargrave said.

Atwood said the experience that stuck with him the most over the years was recovering an inmate who was attempting suicide. Atwood stopped the inmate, who was trying to hang himself with his underwear.

“That stands out in my head because maybe I was here to save that man’s life. It was a good feeling,” Atwood said.

His interest in the law enforcement is not limited to his work at the jail. Atwood also serves as the Green Ridge police chief on a part-time basis. He said his enthusiasm for the legal system along with the support of his co-workers helps sustain his passion for his work.

“I have an interest in the court system and the officers I work with,” Atwood said. “I have a really good group of people I supervise.”