Folkston ICE Processing Center's (FIPC) Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members have had a busy few months. Outside of their day-to-day duties and monthly training sessions, they find time to attend facility and community events, as well as external training events.
In April of 2024, a select few FIPC CERT members traveled to West Virginia to participate in the Mock Prison Riot 2024 event. The participating personnel were Officer Harry Vernon, Officer Emily Burgess, Captain Daniel Bennet, and Officer James Dorns. They were able to watch as CERT, sheriff's officers, and military teams from around the world performed riot demonstrations.
In May of 2024, FIPC CERT color guard presented the flags during the memorial service for National Correctional Workers Week.
In June of 2024, FIPC CERT completed their fourth year of participation in the annual Charlton County Junior Sheriff’s Academy. The program invites approximately 50 middle school students to attend the academy each year. CERT team members Harry Vernon, Sharena Doles, Angel Marquez, and Emily Burgess spent time with the students, talking and answering questions about the facility and demonstrating what equipment to use to keep the staff safe when needed. The CERT split the students into two groups and each student wore a protective helmet, protective gloves, bandaged upper body parts (chest, back, shoulders, and forearms), and knee and shin pads. Along with FIPC CERT, students spent time throughout the week with the Georgia State Patrol Helicopter and SWAT Unit, local fire departments, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Bomb Robot, the Jacksonville Mounted Horse Unit and Motorcycle Unit, and the Florida Department of Natural Resources Rangers.
