MCALESTER, Okla -- As long as she can remember, Mikayla Butler dreamed of a career in law enforcement. She spent several months training and testing. Recently -- her dream became reality. Butler was among 17 new Department of Corrections graduates.
Her first assignment is a big one -- the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. Butler said, “It’s just another day coming to work. Do my job and protect the public, employees and the inmates.”
Butler realizes there are special challenges to working at Big Mac. She said, “You’ve got to be cautious at all times. You can’t let your guard down. You’ve got to be ready all the time. Because anything can happen at any second.”
But this 21 year old correctional officer has complete trust in her ODOC family. According to Butler, “It’s a good place to work. It doesn’t scare me. I just want to further my career.”
She believes it’s a great career for a young mom. She was drawn to the family health insurance, generous vacation and sick leave and esprit de corps. She’s excited about the challenge. Butler said, “It’s a lot of experience because it’s max. The most dangerous prison. So if I can get through here I can get through anywhere else.
For Mikayla Butler, this is a dream job and first big step on her lifetime journey in law enforcement.
