Wardens To Change This Week At Century Correctional Institution

July 9, 2012

There will be change in wardens at Century Correctional Institution this week, one of the North Escambia area’s largest employers.

Warden Ricard Comerford’s last day at Century CI will be Friday; he is being transferred by the Florida Department of Corrections to the warden position at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Milton.

John Whitehurst will be promoted from Walton Correctional Institution to the warden at Century CI, effective Friday.

“This move for me is advancement and will bring new and different challenges due to the size and missions of Santa Rosa CI. I leave with mixed emotions in that my family and I have grown to love Century and the surrounding area. This community has made us feel welcomed from the first day we were here, and we will leave a piece of us when we go,” Comerford said.

He has served as Century CI’s warden for 16 months.

Comerford said he has personally known Whitehurst for over 20 years, and he expects him to continue a tradition of positive leadership and Century Ci, as well as maintain community relationships with the prison’s work program. Under the program, Century CI inmate work crews assist local governmental agencies, including the the towns and cities of Century, Jay and Gulf Breeze, Santa Rosa County, the Florida Department of Transportation, and North Escambia area schools. In 2011, Century Work Camp staff and inmates performed over 52,000 hours of work, saving taxpayers about $800,000.

“I have been proud to serve with the great staff here at Century CI. They hold public safety in the highest regard, while at the same constantly giving back to others and the community. I am proud our work squads, partnerships, and programs have been able to give back to our schools, parks, and fellow agencies,” Comerford said. “It is a testament to the hard working men and women of Century CI and the Florida Department of Corrections.”

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, there are 394 people employed at Century CI.

Pictured top: Century Correctional Institution Warden Richard Comerford speaks at a recent GED graduation ceremony inside the prison’s chapel. Pictured inset and below: Views inside the Century Correctional Institution. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Wardens To Change This Week At Century Correctional Institution”

  1. Jackie on July 11th, 2012 5:29 pm

    Century will continue to be in good hands. I did not see where the Colonel left, so they still have some good leadership.

  2. Rod Pumas on July 10th, 2012 4:37 am

    We appreciate all the assistance given by Century CI in getting the Health and Hope Clinic open to serve the area’s medically uninsured. Thanks! and our best wishes to everyone.

    The volunteers at Health and Hope Clinic.

  3. Dee Wolfe-Sullivan on July 9th, 2012 2:32 pm

    We at Byrneville Elementary are very appreciative of Mr. Payne and Mr. Comerford for all they have done for our school.

  4. Scott Lassiter on July 9th, 2012 1:32 pm

    Good luck to Warden Comerford. He is a man of his word and has been more than fair to me personally. I am also thrilled to see some people come back home, and others get what they have wanted.

  5. Kelley Underwood on July 9th, 2012 11:45 am

    Yes marinian was a team player….you can go far when you are.

  6. Be Happy on July 9th, 2012 7:19 am

    Century CI is LUCKY!! Whitehurst is the best!! You will LOVE HIM!! We miss him at Santa Rosa!!

  7. Audrey on July 9th, 2012 5:34 am

    Yes, Mr. Payne is being promoted at Warden at Calhoun. Linda Marinin is returning to Century as Assistant warden in his place. She rose up through the ranks at Century and it will be good to have her home. Mr. Comerford and Mr. Payne have both been great leaders at Century and will be missed!

  8. William on July 9th, 2012 2:26 am

    >>What happened to Mr.Payne was or wasn’t he the warden?

    Scott Payne was an assistant warden, but I believe he has been promoted to warden at Calhoun Correctional.

  9. Shorty on July 9th, 2012 2:22 am

    What happened to Mr.Payne was or wasn’t he the warden? :-)

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News