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| Officers Protest Prison Conditions |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/22/2006 |
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Dan Merten, his jaw wired shut after being punched by a prisoner last Friday, was among about 100 Wisconsin officers who rallied Tuesday outside Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution to protest what they contend are increasingly unsafe conditions. Officers carried signs reading, "Will today be the day we all get out safely?" "We are not a blood bank," and "Help Wanted - work here if you dare." The members of Local 163 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said safety efforts must be stepped up to counteract overcrowding, understaffing and escalating gang activity in the medium-security prison. Among incidents in the past four months, four officers were assaulted, three inmates smashed their way through a prison unit, resulting in a two-day lockdown, a female sergeant was attacked through her office window and a male officer had a threatening note slipped under his door. Union President Terry Klumpyan said many of the prison's nearly 1,200 inmates should not be held in only a medium-security prison. He said inmates hold the keys to their own rooms, and officers can't physically lock them in. Greg Teichmiller, who has worked as a third-shift sergeant for 12 years, also said a number of inmates should be at a prison with a higher level of security. But Larry Jenkins, warden at Kettle Moraine for about the past year, defended prison conditions and management response to concerns of workers. "We have a safe and secure institution," he said. "I have all the confidence in the staff, and they do the job well." John Dipko, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections, said the three inmates involved in the smashing incident have been transferred to the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility in Boscobel. He said the department does not tolerate attempts to harm the staff. Denise Camp, who works at Taycheedah Correctional Institution, supported the officers at the Kettle Moraine rally and said working conditions there aren't safe. "We want to live to get home to our families," she said. |
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