The path to a Sheriff's road patrol often passes through the Genesee County Jail for career-minded folks interested in law enforcement, and Darrell Klein thought that would be the path he would take when he signed on as a corrections officer 24-and-a-half years ago.
It didn't take him long, though, to figure out the jail was where he could do the most good.
"I liked the people," Klein said. "I liked the challenge, the feeling that I was doing something that mattered. People misunderstand what inmates are all about. They think they are bad people. They're not. There are a lot of good people here who made bad choices. It's nice to be able to help them when I can."
He said he will be look back at several memories where he feels he made a difference in people's lives.
"Those are good feelings," he said.
Today was Klein's last day on the job.
"It's time to pass the torch to somebody else," he said.
Thank you for your service
Thank you for your service sir. We need more people like you in the world.