Tuesday, December 28, 2021

FALLOUT FROM PRISON STAFF HARASSMENT

by Bob Walsh

Regular readers will remember that I have written two of three times about this over a period of months.  It seems that the semi-final shoe has dropped, with a total of two officers being recommended for termination and ten others facing lesser discipline.

Officer Valentino Rodriguez, had worked at the California State Prison, Sacramento County (New Folsom Prison) until his death due to fentanyl exposure at his home in West Sacramento in October of 2020 at the age of 30.  He had been an officer in the Investigative Services Unit at the prison.  This is an elite posting generally speaking and the unit does criminal investigations at the prison and also functions as the internal affairs investigators.  Sgt. Kevin Steele, 56, died at his family home in Missouri this last August. His cause of death is listed as suicide.  Rodriguez left a record of hazing, harassment and threats by prison staff.

After Rodriguez's death Steele filed a wistleblower complaint accusing uppper staff at the prison of ignoring Rodriguez's complaints.  He also accused staff of tampering evidence.  He also passed on information wherein Rodriguez alleged staff members planted evidence on prisoners.  The F.B.I. had been investigating some of these claims, including the claim that staff helped inmates set up a stabbing attack on a prisoner.  The state has been investigating these complaints as well via the internal affairs department.  

The Department has confirmed that two officers have been sacked and ten others disciplined.  Some of those have included 10% loss of pay for one year.  These discipline actions are all under appeal to the State Personnel Board, which could reduce or even overrule the penalties.

One of those fired was Officer Daniel Garland, who got into an argument via text message (not very smart) with Officer Rodriguez two years ago.  The other fired was officer Marcus Jordan, who is alleged to have been repeatedly disrespectful to Black inmates and also accused Rodriguez's wife of cheating on him.  Neither officer has made a comment to the media.

Some of those officers who are now catching disciplinary action have been promoted in the meantime.  Those included Jordan, who made Sergeant at Vacaville before he was sacked. 

1 comment:

Trey said...

Several years ago, TDCJ opened the Internal Affairs Unit. They are classified as state peace officers. Most of the people working the unit were/are brought in from other state police agencies. It is a Hush-Hush, Secret Squirrel position. I am told they have carte blanche. Officers are paid TDCJ Lt. and above salaries. A friend of mine took one of the internal affairs jobs and transferred from TABC to TDCJ. He stayed a year then retired from the state. IMHO, corruption must be terrible for Texas to staff and maintain such a unit.