DRS Luncheon celebrates retirement of three employees

November 4, 2016

Thomas R. Throssell

Gila River Indian News

Three soon-to-be retiring Gila River Indian Community Department of Rehabilitation and Supervision (DRS) employees were honored at a luncheon held at the GRIC Juvenile Detention Center on Oct. 19.

The three DRS employees, who were recognized for their years of service and commitment to the Community, were Detention Officer Wilbert Cade, who served 20-plus years, Mental Health Liaison Janice Brown, who served nine years, and Detention Officer Dorene Davis, who served for 20 years.

The luncheon, which is a part of DRS’s employee appreciation program, was filled with DRS employees who catered the event with a potluck style buffet filled with their own homemade meals.

While employees dined on enchiladas, slices of pizza, red chili, and chumuth, Ron Lopez, DRS Chief Administrator said that while he was sad to see such good employees leaving their organization, he understood that everyone’s career eventually comes to an end.

“We are sorry to see them go,” said Lopez. “However, we understand that people come to the end of their career for different reasons, always good reasons.”          

“When we see them retire, [we] don’t want them to go…we don’t want our good employees to leave us,” said Lopez. But we understand that is the direction they need to go, he said.

“So, we don’t say goodbye to those employees, we say, see you later, God bless, and we wish you all the success in the world,” Lopez said.