Page 13 - CFESA Magazine November / December 2018

SERVICE VIEWPOINT

PAUL PUMPUTIS

REGIONAL MANAGER & TRAINER
DUFFY’S AIS

PREPARE FOR PRISON and they will verify that on their arrival, so
techs need to have a valid photo ID with
them. Phones and tablets are not generally
My first experience working in an upstate
allowed in, so if any paperwork or wiring
New York correctional facility was
diagrams are anticipated, try to print them
memorable. I was new with Duffy’s and
out for the tech to have on hand ahead of
several of us were getting access through
time.
the truck trap. This is where the guards will
search you, your tool box, your truck and
Some locations will require an itemized
anything else they deem necessary before
tool list of what the tech will be bringing in
you can enter the facility with your vehicle.
the facility. The guards will inventory that
Just ahead of me, safely through the second
before and after, (keep in mind if something
gate sitting on the back bumper of their van
turns up missing on the way out nobody
were my new bosses, Patrick Duffy and Paul
is going anywhere until it is found, so that
Toukatly. Having never done this before, I
tech you have that is always losing tools,
was a little nervous to begin with, having
maybe that’s not who you send on these
Pat and Paul daring the guards to find the
jobs). Tech’s tool boxes can be a nightmare
contraband I was hiding was terrifying.
to have to inventory, so, I’ve found the best
Thinking a full body cavity search was
way to do this is to have a smaller tool box
inevitable I was relieved when one of the
or tool bag that the tech can fill with just
guards said to me “I can’t believe you have
the basic tools and meters to get them
to work with these guys”, little did he know
through that specific job. Trips to the truck
that I worked FOR those guys.
for a tool or a part are time consuming and
sometimes based on the availability of a
Working in prisons or jails bring up several
guard to escort you, so be as thorough as
things to consider that normal service
possible without making the tool list too
customers do not. Can you bring your
extensive. Also keep in mind much of the
vehicle inside the gate, how do you get prior
equipment you will find are tamper proof
clearance to enter, do we need background
and require security bits to access.
checks, are techs allowed to bring in their
phones? The higher the grade of security
When quoting jobs at correctional facilities,
of the facility, the more rules and usually the
always call ahead and find out their specific
more time it will take to complete the job.
requirements and plan on the extra time it
will take to accommodate, and if possible
Most prisons will require prior gate
try not to antagonize the guards into strip
clearance 24 to 48 hours in advance. They
searching the rookie.
also want to know who it is that is coming,

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