The Erie County Holding Center is under fire. Now a sergeant and two deputies are out of a job, and three more employees are suspended without pay.
"There is definitely not prisoner abuse here," said Rick Carr, Union Chief Steward.
The terminations were announced yesterday. The Undersheriff explains an inmate was hit in the ribs by a guard, while others watched. He said it happened back in January, and that a lieutenant reported it the next day. After an investigation into what happened, the sheriff's department says three of the employees involved lied about what happened, and that is why they lost their jobs.
"The employees that were able to keep their jobs did so because of the fact they were truthful during the investigation," said Undersheriff Brian Doyle.
But Carr, seeing it differently, says he has requested the findings from the department, and has not received them.
"They were totally truthful. They did not witness anything so they could not comment on anything they did not witness," added Carr.
The sheriff's department says they are confident in their findings and the results of the investigation. This happens as the spotlight is on the holding center, because of a high number of suicides. Federal investigators will visit the jail, with county representatives, under a court order later this month.
There is a hearing tomorrow regarding the 3 employees who were terminated, and Carr will again request the findings. The department says the union will be providing whatever information it is entitled too.
Twitter
Facebook