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Escambia County Hires Corrections Director
December 6, 2014
Escambia County has hired Michael Tidwell as corrections director.
Tidwell will oversee the Escambia County Jail, Community Corrections, Probations, Pretrial, Code Enforcement, Animal Control and the Road Prison. His first day on the job will be January 28.
He replaces Gordon Pike, who retired last month. His retirement date was already scheduled prior to the April 30 explosion as the Central Booking and Detention facility.
Most recently, Tidwell served as chief corrections deputy for Orleans Parish, LA. With more than 30 years experience, Tidwell has been also employed as the director of the Orange County Corrections Department, jail director for Seminole County, corrections director for Osceola County and has management experience at organizations nationwide. He received his master’s degree in human services from Lincoln University and is a certified jail manager and corrections executive.
The selection committee is comprised of County Administrator Jack Brown, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Eric Haines, Pensacola Police Chief Chip Simmons, Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright and Richard Johnson of the Florida Model Jail Inspections group.
The five other finalists for the position were:
- Larry Aiken — former Escambia County Sheriff’s Office chief deputy under Sheriff David Morgan, and employed currently by Edge Access, Inc.
- Tammie Booker — currently the second ranking person in the division under Pike, serving as community corrections division director
- Clifford Tebbitt — jail administrator in Scott County, Iowa
- Brett Whitlock — Escambia County jail commander
- Jesse Williams — regional director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections
A total of 17 people applied for the position.
Comments
8 Responses to “Escambia County Hires Corrections Director”
I would expect a high turnover in such a thankless position, regardless of location.
Look at all the shenanigans, skullduggery, mystery and controversy surrounding the corrections program. Would you go through all those headaches for the offered salary…
I think that we should think of Mr Tidwell as a man for all seasons.
Tammie Booker was the best choice. Out of town doesn’t always mean the candidate is better.
@Sam– I saw his work history also and have to question why he “left” so many jobs. I guess it’s like a lot of the people who are hired here in Escambia county. Sad there are no good people in this area that could do this job. How long do you think he’ll last?
From what I found he tends to resign, I mean retire, on September 30 a lot.( Amid Questions)
Funny that everyone thinks being from out of town makes you better.
When departments from out of town didn’t seem too sure of him.
Interesting that a director would be so transitory. Typically, the individual attaining such a position holds it until retirement.
Yesssss
Someone has to fill this position and Mr Tidwell is as good a fit as any.
He is welcome to it in my opinion and good luck.
Read this fellows work history and why he left the last jobs he had and one has to ask–what was the county comm. thinking. We tend to hire some strange people who have poor work history. Oh well.