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| Merced County Jail violence prompts call for action |
| By mercedsunstar.com - MIKE NORTH |
| Published: 12/29/2011 |
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Merced County, CA -- After a violent outbreak Monday at the Merced County Jail left one inmate with several stab wounds, the Teamsters Law Enforcement League called on the Board of Supervisors to hold a hearing on jail staffing. Understaffing at the jail is a "ticking time bomb" that's "already exploding," according to Chris Navarro, president of the Merced County Sheriff's Employee Association, which is affiliated with Teamsters Local 856 in San Bruno. Navarro was the correctional officer who was involved in Monday's attack. Four inmates managed to open their cell door to attack an inmate worker who was a gang dropout. Navarro didn't suffer major injuries during the attack, but he said the inmates could have killed him if they wanted to. "We've lost control," he told the Sun-Star on Tuesday. "Anytime they want, they can get us." Navarro said short staffing and wavering management have created a dangerous environment for officers, inmates and the public. Staff reduction, in the eyes of sheriff's department administrators, were unavoidable and were made to help combat a $20 million county shortfall. Nonetheless, the cutbacks have ruffled the feathers of some correctional officers and their union. "If these violent offenders can so easily escape their cell, what's to prevent them from escaping the jail?" Navarro asked in a news release. "We're extremely concerned that we won't be able to protect the citizens of Merced County because of the severe short staffing." Leadership also needs to improve, Navarro said. Read More. |
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