Monday, January 31, 2011
Guard strangled at Washington state prison
"I WILL ACT WITH HONESTY, COURTESY AND REGARD FOR THE WELFARE OF OTHERS, AND WILL ENDEAVOUR TO DEVELOP THE ESPRIT DE CORPS," this important excerpt from the ethical oath that all police officers take once completing their training is an important part of their main duty, when entering into the force. Going into a field of police work, whether it be in corrections, courts, or a cop, it is fully aware that a main goal or priority in your work is to protect the people. However, sometimes, it is the officers who need the protecting. Guards especially may need extra protection when containing dangerous and potentially violent inmates. This was the case for a young guard at the Washington state prison. A tragic accident took the life of one of the dedicated guards there in the chapel. Jayme Biendl, the victim, 34, was found dead Saturday night in the chapel at Monroe Correctional Complex about 30 miles northeast of Seattle. She had been strangled, and the main suspect is an inmate serving a life time sentence at the facility for a first degree rape and kidnapping in 1997. The inmate had been reported missing at 9:14 pm Saturday night and three minutes later found int he chapel, where he said he was going to attempt to escape. Coincidentally enough, after Biendl did not check in after her shift, staffs members found her unresponsive in the chapel. She was officially declared dead at 10:49 pm. Ironically before Biendl's death she was raising concerns to others about how she was the only guard in the chapel. Understandably Biendl was worried about being alone, and no one there to check on her. Maybe if someone had listened to her concern and provided for more safety for the guards, her life could have been spared. Apparently they were unable to provide these safety measure because of budget cuts. These economic problems caused for staffing reductions, and unmistakeably have caused minor worries in union members on the impact of those reductions on safety within the vicinity. This incident just goes to show that protection of officers working within their practices is just as a major concern, if not more important, than the safety of the individuals being held in custody in jails and others facilities. Due to results of this incident the facility has been greatly pushing for more safety and hopefully their pleas will be heard, and this issue can be resolved once in for all. It is tragic to see that something so horrible had to happen for these people to see that they need to have high priorities in safety for their workers.
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About 12 years ago I worked as a corrections officer in a 1440 bed male prison. It was considered a medium security facility, but we housed all security levels, maximum to minimum. The prison was run by Corrections Corporation of America, and they came in and built this facility in a very employment depressed area in western Oklahoma. They then proceeded to hire most of their staff from the locals, who predominantly were not "familiar" with a security environment. It was a job, a much needed job. Paid better than minimum wage and had benefits. They provided us with 40 hours of training, but it really did not prepare you for what you were about to do. I was fortunate in that my job was in the central control suite. Running all the doors, gates, fences, alarms etc. I worked in central control for approximately 5 months. When they placed me in the "pod" or prsioner housing area, two tiered with 240 inmates, just me as the officer, with my backup being a telephone and a radio to call for help, I quit the next day. Safety is a major concern in this environment, and hard to come by. In a typical 240 bed (inmate) housing unit there is one guard, one counselor, and a roaming lietenant or captain. Complete control of the unit is a daily struggle. This "job" takes a lot of grit, courage and determination. It also provides a whole new perspective in life inside the wire versus life outside the wire. The goal for a security or corrections officer is to leave the wire at the end of his/her shift. My greatest respect to the men and women who undertake this task.
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