Reprinted with permission by The Olympian

Source-The_Olympian; Date-16.04.2000; Section-Opinion; Page-A8;

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Corrections officers aren't helping things improve.

It was with great dismay that I read yet another article about corrections officers complaining about conditions at the Thurston County Jail.

While safety is always a concern in law enforcement, hazardous and unpleasant situations are a part of the job. Those entering the field, whether it be in police or corrections, do so knowing that there are risks inherent in the work. At least in the jail, corrections personnel have the ability to remove weapons, lock down prisoners and summon assistance in a short period of time. Police officers, deputies and troopers have no such guarantees. They routinely work short-handed, facing wanted, armed and combative subjects.

Often there is limited or no backup. They cannot shut a door and walk away until the situation is calm. Even more distressing is the fact that in order to accommodate the complaints of correction officers, many prisoners are not being accepted by the jail. This includes those arrested for domestic violence and non-Thurston County misdemeanor warrants.

Domestic violence is a serious problem and victims need protection. Failing to enforce warrants gives criminals the impression that they do not have to be responsible for their crimes.

Crowding may be a problem, but the answer is not filing grievances and jeopardizing the community. Corrections officers should try to find ways to work with the Sheriff's Office to identify solutions to their issues, not make matters worse.

Larry Dickerson, Olympia

Response:

October 16, 2000

Assistant Chief Larry Dickerson

Lacey Police Department

420 College St. SE

Lacey, WA. 98503

Dear Chief Dickerson,

The first thing I would like to say is I have the utmost respect for the Police Officers who place their lives on the line every day patrolling the roads and highways of our State. The Officers I deal with are extremely professional and dedicated to their work. Every citizen in this state should be thankful they have this commitment from their local Police/Sheriffs Department.

I recently had the opportunity to read your letter to The Olympian dated April 16, 2000. It intrigued me that someone in Law Enforcement could be so naive to the situation that affects every  City/County Corrections Officer in this state.

Overcrowding, staff reduction, loss of revenue, assaults, exposures to communicable diseases are just a few issues that affect the Officers at Thurston County as well as all other agencies in the state. Yes, I would agree that we in the Law Enforcement field understand that there are some risks with the job. Yet, I can also say if I thought I would be assaulted every day at work, I would not be in this field. Safety of myself as well as other Officers is on my mind at all times when interacting with inmates. Please do not minimize the fact we can all be injured in the line of duty, not just the Police Officer.

It is hard for me to believe that you feel inmates do not have weapons, comply with directives in a volatile situation or stop fighting staff because backup is on the way. As you say, there are no guarantees that your backup will arrive before the inmate knocks the daylights out of you. Officers inside do not carry guns, batons or pepper spray. They rely on their physical ability, verbal skills and any training they are fortunate enough to receive through their Department.

Statistics show that Police Officers and Corrections Officers are nearly equal in life expectancy, alcoholism, divorce, heart attacks, etc.  If our job is so easy, I implore you to go to your Patrol Officers and ask then if they were given the same benefits with a 5% raise, would they work in a city/county jail. I believe they would respond with a “NO”.

You assume that we close the door and walk away until things are calm. If you think we have the option to walk away you are wrong. We have an obligation to protect the safety and security of the inmates, the staff members and the facility where we work. This is what society demands and expects from us.

Whose fault is it when a politician makes a decision to close the doors regarding arresting someone on a warrant issued by the courts? Last time I looked it was not the Corrections Officer. In King County it took a Federal Lawsuit to build another facility. If that is what is needed in Thurston County and the Officers are forcing the issue, more power to them. It is the only way things get done unless you have someone in the political forum willing to take the risk and force the issue. Double bunking or cramming inmates into overcrowded conditions does not solve the problem as you  suggest in your letter.

You state,  “Crowding may be a problem.” If it is not a problem, when does it become one? When an Officer gets hurt or killed, When staff start burning out, calling in sick, taking more time off, increasing overtime so the newspaper can introduce another inflammatory article against the Corrections Officers? Overcrowding is a problem now as it is everywhere. Just take a look at recently completed facilities and the ones in the planning stages.

You talk about wanting to work with the Corrections Officers, trying to identify solutions. If that was the case, you should have written your letter to the Officers of Thurston County and not the local newspaper. You should approach them and work in collaboration in resolving the problem, rather than adding to it.

Again, I have the highest and utmost respect for every Police Officer in this state. It is sad that you do not feel the same about Corrections Officers.

Willie Hayes, Sergeant

King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention

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