Monroe’s Jayme Biendl has been named Washington’s top corrections officer, a posthumous honor the state Department of Corrections announced Friday.
Biendl, who was killed Jan. 29 at her post in the chapel of the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe, has been named Statewide Correctional Officer of the Year, an honor that hasn’t been bestowed on anyone in some time, officials said.
Gov. Chris Gregoire attended a ceremony honoring Biendl and others Tuesday.
“This has undoubtedly been a difficult year but despite the challenges we have faced staff have done an extraordinary job keeping our facilities and communities safe,” Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail said in a press release. “Staff are our greatest asset and they put their lives on the line daily to ensure communities in Washington are safe. We are extremely grateful for their commitment and the contributions of our volunteers who have given their time to aid us in our effort to improve public safety.”
The full list of dozens of other corrections workers honored around the state is attached to this post.
A convicted rapist has been charged with Biendl’s killing. Snohomish County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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