Officer Bosstic Making a Difference at PCI

Living the third shift life while still making a difference for his colleagues at PCI

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction employs over 5,800 correction officers. Only one person can be awarded the agency's Correction Officer of the Year award every year. For Officer Dustin Bosstic, the 2024 recipient, it's work as usual… albeit with his picture up around his institution.

"It was definitely weird in the beginning, seeing my picture up with other names of some great individuals who have also won the award. However, I take pride in being up there. It's a good reminder of the work that I and so many others do daily," said Bosstic.

Bosstic works the third shift main entry at Pickaway Correctional Institution (PCI), a job that most may find boring or not exciting enough. However, for Bosstic, it's about the camaraderie of his third shift crew and the other things he can accomplish for his institution.

Bosstic heads the employee activity committee. In his "downtime," he helps plan food truck visits for the institution twice a week, among other events he tries to plan throughout the year. He takes pride in caring for his colleagues and doing his best to set them up for success: "Looking forward to coming into work makes a world of difference for someone. I try to help that in any way that I can."

Spending time with Bosstic while he works on the main entry will show you why he was awarded the distinct honor of Officer of the Year. Every person who entered the facility was given a warm greeting from him, and he knew almost every coworker by name. "You develop a certain camaraderie with the people on the third shift. Not as many people are here, so you get to know each other pretty well."

The work still must get done, and Bosstic has overachieved in that department as well. He has prevented contraband from entering PCI on multiple occasions. From someone leaving contraband in a trash can at the main entry to someone trying to see a coworker catch someone sneaking drugs in a Tim Horton's cup, Bosstic has learned many of the ways people will try to get illicit items into the facility and has stopped it on multiple occasions.

Life is all about trying to achieve balance. Many would say that balance cannot be achieved when working a third-shift life. As a husband and father to four kids, Bosstic has adapted his lifestyle very well. "It's about knowing what is truly important in life. My wife and kids are at the top of that list. Some days are definitely a struggle, but I take time to go to all the sporting events and make sure I am there for them as much as possible. It's not a perfect balance, but it's as balanced as I can possibly be."

Bosstic, an avid Green Bay Packers fan, loves coming to work every day and making a difference. "I love what I do. We do important work, and I'm glad to just do my part to help us achieve our goals every day."

"Officer Bosstic is an exceptional staff member at all times. I'm so excited that he is being recognized for the genuine difference that he makes here at Pickaway Correctional Institution," said PCI Warden Rochelle Moore. "Officer Bosstic is kind and professional to inside and outside guests. That is what makes him a valuable part of our Front Entry team. He shows up for his peers and shows up for his superiors with an equal amount of enthusiasm. I certainly understand why Officer Bosstic was chosen as the best, among the best, within the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction! We are very proud of him!"

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