Correctional Officers In Need of Correction: April 2010

[XLFD]

Being a correctional officer is a tough, often thankless job.  Good correctional officers rarely get the recognition of achievement that others who excel in their job, just the grief of having to deal with a bunch of dangerous felons who could seriously injure or kill them if given the opportunity.  For those who go through their career in a professional, accountable manner, we salute you.

 

Lately, we have been discussing the grievance of an inmate at the Oaks Correctional Facility up north.  I personally know a former CO from that facility who I believe is beyond reproach, he has even hinted at a 'bad situation' leading to his decision to leave there.  I have sent an even-handed letter to that facility about the prisoner's grievance and have received no response over the last month. 

 

Lately, we have had a new member join who is solidly behind the CO charged with ethical lapses by the inmate, who he has yet to attribute any rights to.  This member has claimed to be a CO himself, and he feels the inmate is lying, and the CO involved is an upstanding CO.  He may very well be right.  The certainty of this member in the innocence of the CO, had me asking why. 

 

I Googled "Correctional Officer arrested" in Google News and came up with many results.  Here are just a few that came up occuring in April of 2010. 

 

Walton correctional officer arrested for felony drug possession
April 13, 2010 7:31 PM
Daily News
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — A Walton County correctional officer was arrested for drug possession Monday.

Justin Ryan Tankersley, 23, a correctional officer at the Walton Correctional Institution, was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance after an officer found one Xanax pill and seven Valium pills in a Dodge truck, according to a report from the DeFuniak Springs Police Department.
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Corrections officer arrested for dealing drugs
By Vershal Hogan (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Wednesday, April 14, 2010

VIDALIA — A Concordia Parish correctional officer was arrested and charged Monday with arranging drug deals while at work.
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Ex-Ariz. corrections officer pleads guilty in drug case
by Jolie McCullough - Apr. 21, 2010 06:12 PM
The Arizona Republic .
A former Arizona corrections officer who was accused of trying to give cocaine to an inmate pleaded guilty in a Phoenix federal district court this week, officials said.
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Westminster police officer and corrections officer held in kidnap, rape of woman
Police say Det. Anthony Orban is being held in the alleged attack at gunpoint of a woman at Ontario Mills Mall. Jeff Thomas Jelinek, the corrections officer, is accused of being an accessory.
April 06, 2010|By Paloma Esquivel
An off-duty Westminster police detective was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a woman at Ontario Mills Mall and raping her at gunpoint, police said Monday.

A corrections officer from the Chino Institution for Men, who was also arrested in connection with the incident, has been booked on suspicion of carjacking and is being held as an accessory to the crime.
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Corrections Officer Arrested
Last Update: 4/13/10 10:07 am  
  In Rensselaer County a corrections officer is under arrest for allegedly threatening someone with a gun.

North Greenbush police arrested 53-year-old Anthony Holston, he's charged with assault and menacing. Police say he assaulted his victim, then allegedly pointed a loaded gun at them.
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Schenectady Corrections Officer Arrested
Posted on Tuesday, 13 of April , 2010 at 5:48 pm
SCHENECTADY—Yet another employee of the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office is on the other side of the law.

Corrections officer Ross Lackey,27, has been arrested by Niskayuna police after a woman filed a complaint against him for allegedly striking her, putting her in a strangle hold and taking her cell phone to prevent her from calling for help.

Lackey has been charged with two counts of second degree harassment, a violation; and second degree unlawful imprisonment.
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N.J. corrections officer pleads guilty to providing cell phones to Latin Kings inmate
By Sue Epstein
April 12, 2010, 4:17PM

Matt Rainey/The Star-LedgerA photo of the cornerstone of East Jersey State Prison in Woodbridge.WOODBRIDGE -- A corrections officer at East Jersey State Prison in Woodbridge pleaded guilty today in New Brunswick to supplying two cell phones to an inmate who is a member of the Latin Kings street gang.
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Federal Corrections Officer Charged After Polk Deputy's Car Sideswiped

Published: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, April 19, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
A federal corrections officer was charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident after he sideswiped a Polk sheriff's deputy's patrol car on the side of Interstate 4 last week, the Sheriff's Office said Monday.
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Female Red Wing prison guard accused of sex crimes with two teen boys
Woman allegedly had relationships with two teen boys
By Frederick Melo
Updated: 04/20/2010 12:00:41 PM CDT
She signed her name Peaches and told him she wanted to be the mother of his baby.

It didn't seem to matter to Suzanne Walstrom that she was a 37-year-old correctional officer and the alleged object of her desire was a 17-year-old inmate at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing.
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Milwaukee County corrections officer held for potential sexual assault of a child
April 8, 6:04 PMMilwaukee City Buzz ExaminerTracey Esser

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this past Tuesday, a 34-year-old Milwaukee County corrections officer was arrested due to the suspicion of second-degree sexual assault of a child.
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Cops: Fed Jail Guard Was DWI in Wrong-way Parkway Crash

By Timothy Bolger on Apr 19th, 2010

A federal corrections officer from Wheatley Heights was arrested for drunken driving after he drove the wrong way on Wantagh State parkway and crashed head-on into another vehicle early Monday morning, New York State police said.
 

[stanstayhi]

I have 15 years in a max security prison in the state I live in.... is that good enough? Please do not treat me like I am ignorant Angela there is no one that takes this job for no other reason then the money. You could not find a job any where else I do not fault you but please I know some posters here will believe anything including some who have never been in a prison but think that watching movies is good enough! I have found some people that took it as a stepping stone to become a state police man.

[Angela]

Ok Stan - so you are telling me that where you worked at, for 15 years, there was not one Correctional Officer in that facility that was "dirty"? I dont believe it for one minute if thats what you are saying. I am not trying to stick up for either party - I am just giving first hand knowledge of what I know and have seen because I worked at Oaks in the beginning of my C/O career. I never said you were ignorant nor was I meaning to imply that - I was nt aware of your past profession. We both know that inmates lie and lie and lie - thats what they are best at BUT C/O's are human too and can lie themselves if they get caught up in something that could/should cost them this great paying job w/ the good benefits. PS - I could haver choosen a different career path but really didnt feel like waiting thru more school so it had nothing to do with not finding a job anywhere, it was the $$$

[stanstayhi]

Angela

Well yes there were dirty cops bringing cigs for the inmates, females I worked with falling for the inmates.... The whole point to my replies was there is no one here that can post first person information on Officer Fink but several people here in so many words have the Officer needing to be investigated because he had to do something wrong. That is like I am demanding a investigation of you because you must have done something wrong, there is always a inmate who will get upset with you because you said no to him or her. Until I hear different I give the officer the benefit of doubt. With the pervious history of the inmate making the charges leads me not to believe what he has to say. Early in my career I did do investigations of dirty officers and most of them ended up being the inmate trying to either set up the officer or they were angry at them.

To get back to what I am trying to state it is not a easy job but to have some of john q public act like they know more of what is going on inside prison walls by watching movies just goes over my head.

I cannot blame you for not wanting to go thru school I was a dummy and joined the Navy for 11 years until I had enough... Corrections love ex military people! I had to do what I did to feed my family and to make sure they had health benefits!

[Angela]

point taken - I am not taking any side to this story I am just pointing out what I personally know/have seen from working at the prison. The truth will come out in the end and I highly doubt the state will cover it up - they may - the punk prison in Baldwin did all the time - but its harder to hide things when its run by the state........... we shall see ------PS Its not that I didnt want to go to school, I didnt want to wait 2+ yrs to get into the nursing program I was young and wanted to make $$ now ya know what I mean?

[stanstayhi]

I bet the state needs nurses pretty bad right now right? Over here the governor wanted to close the nurses program to save money but we do not have even close to enough nurses. Obama might have taken care of the problem with his new health program.

[masonco]

Stanstayhi
Negative treatment breeds negative reactions.
Negative talk breeds negative responses.

Respect breeds respect.

A big thing is LISTEN to what others say and respond with respect.
If you listen as poorly in real life as you do here, no wonder you have issues.
If you treat others decently, you decrease the risk of extreme anger.

[AQUAMAN]

Thanks ladies, for standing your ground, and not being bullied. Stan, you talk and walk the CO kinda guy that Mumaugh is explicitly complaining about. Granted, you have "15 years behind bars" as experience in Ct./Mi. or wherever. Sounds like the prison system has put a sour taste in your mind and soul. I suggest you get out of that type work, cause you sure sound more like the kind citizens don't want there, rather than the type that wants as much peace and harmony as can be had in such a lockup. As for my exp., no, I have not been sentenced as a criminal to prison. As for going into a prison atmosphere, yes, I visited Marquette in the UP, Jackson, Oakes, Raford in Fl., and also saw documentaries on tv of several lockups around the country. Does that make me an expert? Far from it. But I do have some knowledge. Btw, I had a neighbor years ago form St. Joe, in PM Twnshp. that was a CO at Oakes. He bought the vacant 22 acres next to me in the early 90's and built a new home, with wife and one boy. He frquently hunted on mine, his own, and bordering state lands. After a few months of this, and me yelling across the field at trespassers, he finally came to my door one Sunday quiet 8pm evening to introduce himself. He was huge, maybe 6'6" and 275# in stature. He had the gall to insult me by stating since noone else was around, he wondered if it was ok to keep hunting my land since he was training jr. in the sport. I immediately replied, yes, I do mind, in fact, being a LEO of sorts, you should have contacted me long ago about permission. He wasn't happy to say the least, and stormed away, stating he was a CO at Oakes and knew how to deal with my sort. From then on I kept my guard up and 44 magnum ready. I did not see him again, and sold the property a few years afterwards, hoping for a better future neighbor. It was a quaint and quiet setting in the woods, until he came along.

[stanstayhi]

Once again watching T.V. and movies does not really tell you what goes on inside the prison, Sorry I really did not know the truth until I because a officer and saw what was happening. Living next door to a officer really does not mean you know much... I lived next door to a couple of navy families years ago. One guy got drunk all the time and beat the crap out of his wife it was horrible the other was a pack rat that never cleaned nothing. It sucked but you know what I did not judge the Navy on several people I knew. You did not get along with a officer that is not my problem that was yours. I personally would have went over and had a talk with him. I would have told him what I thought but then that is me and I bet you I would have had no problem. I have no problems with anyone that lives near me in fact most of them are friends and I have not a bad word to say about them. I sure do not have to sleep with a 44 under my pillow I am a adult not a kid!

Why would you compare me to a officer that you know nothing about? Why don't you try to find out something about Officer Fink? You have done nothing to prove Mamaugh side of the story except to say he wrote some newspaper that no one heard about until a week ago. I have actually ran into men like you, you cannot look me in the eye when you talk, for what ever reason you feel threatened when you don't even know who I am. You remind me a sales rep I once talked to at a cigar store I use to go all the time. He was ok with me until the Vice president who was very cool, had tattoos from top to bottom asked me what I did and I told him. The rep heard that then he became a total jerk to me. Why ? no ideal never did a thing to him, in fact first time I had met him but he already had me judged I was that manic c/o he saw in the movies... who knows what he thought nor do I care.!

[stanstayhi]

I guess it I should respect you because you flip out and close your thread so I have no chance to reply to your charges that I attacked you on another forum. I replied to your post and you cannot handle that sorry but when you want to post something that is going to mess with someone's career then I will call you on it. I will bring up the history of the person making the charges. When you go to court what do you think the judge looks at besides the present charges? When its time to sentence the poor guy as you seem to think he is they look at his past history. You cannot post any facts about Officer Fink, you seem to know a lot of unknown people but no information on Fink's past but I did provide the past of Mambuagh big difference!

I don't get angry I do not have to but you do get extremely angry when challenged all you have to do is prove your point. I asked for the facts to back your claims you do not have them and you angry that you have been called on them.

[masonco]

Stannie

That topic was not intended to be a debate thread. It was intended to seek FACTS not give you a platform to spew your hate.

The facts were given. No one of MDOC is responding to any question or even allowing XFLD access to anything so they are violating the right to know act of freedom.

You twisted the thread into your agenda so you could spew your hate. The place to do that is over in Ludington soup.

Go make peace with yourself and then MAYBE you will discover everyone you meet is not evil as you indicate. TRY KINDNESS...IT GETS YOU FURTHER. But then again, I doubt you are ABLE to understand that concept.

I will no longer waste my time reading or responding to your juvenile rants.

Meanwhile, I have a very ill mother who lives 4 hours away, and hubby with chronic illness, am unable to keep up the farm alone. I have a son in war zone and need to support a dil and my grandbabies via phone and internet since they live 1200 miles away. I need medical care, but have no help so cannot consider it since hubby can not be left alone overnight nor is he able to help me if I am laid up. Family expects me to take care of my mom, so am dealing with them not understanding hubby can not be left alone.

[AQUAMAN]

Very well said Masonco, and I wish you all the best for your mom and hubby's health. Talk about spewing hate Stan! Why are you doing this? Like I said, you're the expert in DOC policies/people. Why don't you provide proofs of FINK'S innocense? Since you think he can walk on water, like you do! You have better connections than me or anyone else here. Btw, the only person I ever heard on this or any other forum that said, "I'm looking you straight in the eye now" in a threatening manner is one whom has been banned over and over again on most of the West Michigan forums. Started his own forum, and self-destructed it when his true distorted value system came to the surface too. You don't know me, nor I you. I do know alot of CO's have a God authority complex. Your rants and raves just prove it's part of your mentality too. Thank God it's not all the leo's, just the minority that abuse their power. The gestapo types are being found out daily and fired one by one as progress in the DOC comes with time. Btw, if you lived here for 19 years and had to move to Ct. for work, why is that? Did you do something like Fink here and have to leave? Just curious, not to offend. Thanks.

[stanstayhi]

It is called the freedom of information act and to file one is very easy I have filed several. Since you seem to think it happens with a snap of your fingers it does not. You place the request with the warden of Oaks Correctional then you wait for a reply of how much it will cost which they are allowed to charge under law thats FEDERAL LAW. I say it will cost maybe $30.00 at most pay the cost you get the papers. Its very easy to do but takes time.

Your post are the ones getting deleted not mine, like I said before you have not proved your facts you have posted. You have not even shown where Oakes highest one of the highest assault records in the state. Show me where you saw that I will will concede on that point.

WHERE ARE YOUR FACTS DON"T SEE THEM!