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| Oklahoma's Department of Public Safety official Barger resigns post |
| By tulsaworld.com - ZIVA BRANSTETTER & BARBARA HOBEROCK |
| Published: 02/15/2012 |
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A key Department of Public Safety executive resigned Monday, one day after a Tulsa World story detailed his firing from the Department of Corrections for excessive force and civil rights violations. Scott Barger, executive assistant to Public Safety Commissioner Michael Thompson, resigned Monday, according to an email from Chris West, a spokesman for the agency. Thompson said he and Barger discussed his employment Monday. "We had a long talk about it and he just thought that he should resign in light of the negative attention that was being focused on the department," Thompson said. Records show Barger was fired from DOC in 1995 after he oversaw and took part in beatings of handcuffed black inmates at the Lexington Assessment and Reception Center prison. The state settled a federal civil rights lawsuit over the beatings. Gov. Mary Fallin, contacted by the World for comment Monday, did not request the resignation, a spokesman said. Several members of the Black Legislative Caucus said Barger's resignation was necessary. "We have reached a proper conclusion of the matter," said Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, chairwoman of the caucus. The World reported Sunday that Thompson had created a high-ranking job for Barger, whom he described as a longtime friend. At the time of the prison incident, Barger was a captain and assistant commander of the team that conducted the shakedown search of cells Oct. 6, 1994. Ten inmates claimed they were handcuffed, hit with clubs, kicked and punched by Barger and other guards after the shakedown, records show. The inmates' names were on a list of "troublemakers" compiled by Barger's team after reports of gang violence at the overcrowded prison, records state. A prison guard testified he saw Barger beating an inmate and that Barger later threatened him to keep him from discussing the incident, records show. Read More. |
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Why was this individual permitted to return to 'public service' after his previous infractions and violations? What a waste of time, resources and money. There should be a national registry of 'public' violators who violate while in public office preventing them from holding ANY public position at any level!