Captain Joe Moore and Deputy Chuck Mattingly have retired from the Daviess County Detention Center after two decades of service. Jailer Art Maglinger said the two, who are also retired veterans, leave behind a lasting impact on their fellow staff, the inmate population, and the community.
A ceremony was held at the jail Tuesday afternoon, with family and staff not just filling the room but also showering the new retirees with thanks and gratitude for the service and leadership they’ve displayed throughout their time at DCDC.
Mattingly didn’t have law enforcement experience prior to joining the jail staff 20 years ago.
Upon leaving the Army, he moved to the Indianapolis area and worked at a car dealership. He later moved back to Owensboro to be closer to family and wanted to find a job where he could use his military time for retirement. That job just so happened to be at DCDC.
Mattingly has held several roles over the years. For the last 5 or so, he has led the inmate road crew, which handles yard work and trash pickup along roads and at nonprofits across the county. He also works at DCDC’s community service center, overseeing state inmate workers who perform duties such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and groundskeeping for the entire jail.
Mattingly said workers usually start in the kitchen, and he watches to see how well they progress and can do things without being pushed or needing much direct oversight. They can work their way up to different jobs, such as the road crew, which include “a little bit more freedom, a little bit more luxuries, a little bit more outside time.
When asked what the job meant to him, Mattingly paused momentarily and said, “Wow, that’s a hard question to answer,” before eventually summarizing that while there are challenges, there are plenty of rewards as well.
“Every day is a different day. If you have a s–t day here today, you can return the next day, and everything will be fine,” he said. Every day is a new day with new opportunities. It kind of reminds me of the military lifestyle.”
Mattingly said that some of the most rewarding aspects include seeing people succeed upon reentry to the community.
“One of the best things has been watching people I’ve mentored leave, get a job, do well, and not return to jail,” he said. “Also, every once in a while, I see people after they leave jail, and they come up and say, ‘I appreciate the way you treated me.’”
Conversely, Mattingly said it’s disappointing to see people get arrested again, adding that some of the things that jail staff have to deal with can be challenging to deal with mentally.
“A lot of people leave here and do good, but some leave here and come right back like it’s a revolving door,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff that most people wouldn’t want to see, so that could be a low, too.”
Mattingly said he’s not sure what’s next in retirement. He’s going to take a few months off and then keep his options open. One thing is for sure: he will be missed at DCDC.
“Deputy Mattingly has displayed a strong work ethic and remained dependable throughout his career,” Maglinger said. “He has served DCDC and our community very well and will be sorely missed. Deputy Mattingly’s work ethic and dedication to DCDC are commendable and inspiring.”
Moore was part of the military police in the Marines for four years. His brother also had significant experience in law enforcement.
“I’ve always just wanted to see people do the right thing,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be there for someone if they’re getting picked on. Some people just need someone to watch out for them. I have that sheepdog mentality where I’ve always wanted to stand in the way of the bully.”
Moore held several positions at DCDC, most recently as a supervisor, overseeing several lituenantuants’ shifts. Some of his duties included use-of-force reviews, internal investigations, criminal charges on inmates, and more.
Moore said he’s met several friends during his career and cares deeply about the profession.
“It’s not a job everyone wants to do,” he said. “There isn’t a lot of recognition, but there’s a need in the community, and those guys you work with are your brothers and sisters. You have to watch each other’s backs because when you get behind a door where you’re outnumbered, they are all you have to depend on.”
Moore’s favorite part of the job has always been interacting with people, especially the inmates.
“You’re meeting people at the lowest times of their life,” he said. “You see their lives change over a period of time when they’re incarcerated. They’ll get their GEDs or just get rehabilitated and become important community members.”
Like Mattingly, he said it’s always tough to see an inmate relapse and land themselves back in jail. He added that navigating the pandemic was also tough as detention centers quickly realized how short-staffed they were.
After several years as a supervisor, he said he’s excited to now only be responsible for his actions. That said, he didn’t rule out reentering the field if the right position presented itself.
Maglinger said Moore was a vital part of the command staff for the past 7 years.
“He has continued to display integrity, leadership, and loyalty during that time,” Maglinger said. “It is a bittersweet time for us because his level of excellence creates a void, but we also rejoice with him and his family on this milestone in his career.”
