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The Power of Integrity

A trickle of sweat ran down the side of Brianna Dillon’s face. She hoped the inmate hadn’t noticed. As a Wyoming detention officer, she'd spent the last eight years with hardly an incident. Now she was potentially facing a life-or-death situation and waiting for backup.

The inmate somehow failed to report to his cell during a midday count. Dillon was startled to find him inside the laundry room without an escort.

“What are you doing in here? You’re supposed to be in your housing unit for count time.”

Inmate Johnson, a troublemaker in his twenties, stepped forward, pulling out a homemade shank made from a toothbrush handle and a razor. “You wrote me up last week, Boss. It’s payback.”

Behind Brianna, another inmate emerged from a storage closet. It was Odem, a muscular guy in his mid-thirties. He was usually compliant, well-behaved, and trusted.

Officer Dillon was shocked to see him there as well. “Stay back, Odem.”

“With respect, Ma’am, I can’t do that.” Odem crept closer, his eyes on Johnson.

Dillon felt a chill ripple down her neck. All the other officers were tied up doing their routine headcount. There was no one to come running to her defense. She was on her own. Dillon prayed for God's help and wisdom.

She spoke into his radio. “Dillon to Control Room, I've got two inmates still unsecured. One with a weapon. Requesting immediate back up to the laundry room.”

Brianna stood her ground, one hand on her pepper spray, her only defense.

The control room responded. “Officer Dillon, that's a 10-4. Sergeant Diaz is en route.”

Brianna knew Sarge was on the other side of the compound, five minutes away. A lot could go down in five minutes.

“Step back, Johnson! That's an order!” Dillon yelled. Her head whipped back and forth, trying to keep an eye on both inmates. “Both of you get on the ground and put your hands behind your backs.”

Neither obeyed.

Instead, inmate Odem walked past Dillon and put his hand on inmate Johnson’s shoulder, “Brother, I can’t let you harm this officer. She’s fair, ain’t never done us wrong. Don't be stupid.”

Fortified by Odem’s protection, Dillon pulled out the pepper spray, aiming it toward Johnson, “Hit the ground, now!”

Johnson dropped his shank and complied just as Sergeant Diaz and two other officers arrived with a taser and handcuffs.

An hour later, Johnson was in solitary confinement and Officer Dillon was writing up the incident report when she paused to marvel that Odem had protected her.

Brianna never found it easy being a Christian while working at the prison. Being nice was considered a weakness in that environment. She often had to put on a front to avoid being labeled vulnerable, even with her coworkers. She often prayed Psalm 25:19-22, asking that her integrity would show through without losing respect as an officer.

A few weeks later, Dillon was able to explain the gospel message to Odem and that eventually led to the inmate making a decision to follow Christ.

The world is full of crooked people in positions of power. But in contrast, our reputation is a valuable resource in helping others see the right way to do things. People need heroes. They desire someone they can look up to and emulate. Our actions can point them to Christ, our ultimate example.

Those with upright character are wise because they will find favor with God and man. James 3:17 tells us that this wisdom comes from God and is, among other things, peaceable, reasonable, impartial, and sincere. May we be known as men and women of pure character today. In addition to honoring God, it just might save your life.

Have you messed up and compromised your integrity? It’s never too late to restore your reputation. Begin aggressively pursuing whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Philippians 4:8 says these things are virtuous.