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| Prison officers protest suspension |
| By The Trentonian |
| Published: 03/22/2004 |
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Hundreds of corrections officers rallied outside of the New Jersey State Prison last week, protesting the Department of Correction's suspension without pay of four corrections officers and a sergeant accused by an inmate of abuse. Tom Moran, first vice president of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisor's Association, accused Corrections Commissioner Devon Brown of trying to financially ruin the officers without proof of misconduct and said the "special needs" inmate has a history of inflicting wounds upon himself and then blaming officers. DOC spokesman Matt Schuman said the allegations involve an inmate at the Albert C. Wagner Youth Corrections Center who had filed an abuse claim against the officers. Schuman would not comment on the allegations that the inmate had special needs. Moran and his constituents are outraged at the way the DOC is handling the incident. Moran charged that Brown is using his clout to retaliate against the union which, in the past, has scrutinized the commissioner for remarks he's made comparing the prison system to a "plantation." Schuman maintained the nature of the allegations is the reason for the no-pay suspension. While Moran and others within the Police Benevolence Association ranks complained the suspended officers have been deemed "guilty until proven innocent," Schuman assured his fellow state employees were receiving a fair hearing, which began last week. As protesters rallied outside of the prison walls, an internal hearing began inside. "It is basically a fact-finding hearing," said Schuman. "They shouldn't feel caught off guard or ambushed. That's not what we are here for." According to a contract between the state and its employees, the state needs to issue a ruling within 20 days of the hearing. |
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