Second anonymous letter from South Dakota Correctional Officer says little has changed

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota Information Now) -Simply over a 12 months in the past, an nameless letter from a correctional officer resulted within the Governor stepping in to fireplace workers members and make modifications. One other letter was launched Thursday from a brand new writer; this one was despatched to all Division of Corrections workers, warden, and our I-team.

He says his co-workers are like household. As he’s watched lots of them depart, he’s determined it’s his flip to give up his gun belt and different gear Friday, leaving the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the final time.

A brand new nameless e mail was despatched to the whole Division of Corrections Thursday — addressing most of the identical points from the primary nameless letter a 12 months in the past… Pay, security, gear, sexual harassment, and an allegation of masking up the reality.

This officer — who spoke with us on the situation he not be recognized over issues of retaliation from administration — agrees with many factors made.

“If the general public noticed it by our eyes, they’d ask what’s going on this can be a very harmful job,” he stated. “Higher workers in positions which might be implementing the identical insurance policies of the final time. When these issues are introduced up, it will get pushed below the rug.

Our I-team requested if he believes skewed info is being reported to Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko.

“I do,” he stated. “With the workers numbers, it seems to be as if we’re higher workers, however we’re actually not.”

And the pods, the place workers evaluation safety cameras and open gates, are unmanned greater than reported. The declare is not more than 5 minutes, however the officer says that’s not the case.

“These pods have been unmanned for a complete evening,” he stated.

Because the first nameless letter, adopted by a go to from Governor Noem, extra gear was introduced in, but it surely didn’t meet their want. Correct becoming vests and left or right-handed gun holster belts are nonetheless in brief provide. Workers is pulled from coaching to cowl shifts. He believes these points should be taken critically.

“I don’t assume that higher workers actually are treating it that method. Even the legislators, I don’t assume they’re treating it that method. They could be getting false info. The true info must be put up,” he stated.

Though he’s discovered one other job, he cares for these nonetheless residing and dealing behind the penitentiary’s partitions.

“That’s my largest concern. I’m afraid that my brothers and sisters behind these partitions are gonna find yourself not coming dwelling,” he stated.

The correctional officer believes the low pay can also be a detriment to attractive future candidates, contemplating the danger of the job for the paycheck and advantages obtained.

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