Omaha, Nebraska – For Douglas County Department of Corrections Officer Stephanie Sisley, strength is more than muscle. It is focus. It is calm under pressure. It is the steady belief that she can handle whatever the day brings. After two years on the job, the 30-year-old officer says her commitment to fitness has shaped the way she carries herself inside the facility.
“My confidence has definitely gotten stronger,” she said.
Stephanie began taking fitness seriously during her junior year of high school. What started with running slowly turned into something deeper. Over time, movement became routine, and routine became discipline. Today, she works out Monday through Friday after work. She runs outdoors at Zorinsky Lake and along trails around Omaha, using the open air as a way to reset her mind after demanding shifts.
Strength that carries into the job
Her main focus now is CrossFit, a training style known for intensity and variety. Stephanie says the challenge is what keeps her committed.
“What I love most about CrossFit is how challenging it is,” she said. “There are so many techniques to master that I’ll never get bored with it.”
That constant push to improve shows up in her daily work. Corrections is not predictable. It requires quick thinking and physical readiness. Stephanie believes her conditioning makes a real difference.
“I run fast, and my reflexes and strength are good from weightlifting,” Stephanie said.
Speed matters. Strength matters. Clear thinking matters. In high-pressure moments, she feels prepared rather than overwhelmed. That confidence, she explains, did not appear overnight. It was built rep by rep, mile by mile.
Fitness has also become a steady anchor for her mental health. The release she feels during a run or after lifting heavy weight brings balance to her life.
“Exercise has always improved my mental health,” she said. “I’m happy when I’m running outside, and I feel more relaxed after my workouts.”
Growth beyond the gym
Stephanie measures progress in personal records and new skills. She lights up when talking about lifting milestones.
“I love PR’ing on deadlifts and back squats,” she said.
She also finds satisfaction in mastering jump rope skills, something that once felt out of reach. Her goals now include double unders, pull-up variations, toes-to-bar, and bar muscle-ups. Each goal represents patience. Each milestone proves growth.
“Strength has taught me that I’m stronger than I think,” Stephanie said. “When I first started, I thought I would never master the hollow hold. Now I’m very close, and my back doesn’t hurt as much.”
Outside the uniform, she enjoys quiet moments with family and friends, watching movies and relaxing with her cat, Danny. At work, she values her co-workers and the opportunity to make a positive impact within the incarcerated community.
Her message to anyone unsure about starting their own journey is simple.
“Go for it 100 percent,” she said. “Even if you don’t feel strong and finish last, you will get stronger. You just have to have faith in yourself.”
For Stephanie, strength is layered. “Physically, it’s mastering new techniques and PR’ing lifts,” she said. “Mentally, it’s believing in yourself and your abilities. Once you build that, others sense it and respect you.”
Inside and outside the facility walls, that belief continues to grow.
