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Friday, July 25, 2008

Wicomico County Detention Center Questions?

Did you see the front page of the Daily Times day? Seems the Wicomico County Detention Center has made an agreement to house more US Marshall Service Detainees. I applaud the efforts and foresight of Director Devenyns to increase revenue for the county as a whole. Seems to be a little misinformation though. On page 2 where the article is continued it states"the hourly rate for correctional officers overseeing the inmates to $22 up from $17". Where is this rate coming from? Is this an average of all security personel? The starting pay for a non-certified officer is $13.46 and $14.42 for certified per hour as advertised on the county web site. When will the officers be seeing this so called pay raise? US Marshall Detainees are the worst of the worst as far as criminals go. These are seasoned criminals with long criminal records. They are charged with federal crimes and looking at longer terms of b eing in prison. These detainees are coming from the supermax facility in Baltimore. That alone should give you a clue as to how dangerous some of these detainees are.

Back to my question though, where is the mony going? Though the article claims that officers pay will be increased, history has proven this to be false. The Wicomico County Detention Center is the largest county facilty on the Eastern Shore, and the fifth largest in the state. Surrounding counties offer better pay and benifits for their officers yet have less inmates per officer. The state also pays better with a officer to inmate ratio lower than Wicomico County. As taxpayers, what are we not being told?

The article raises more questions than it answers for me. If someone knows the answers, please respond. I feel as if I am in the dark seeking light.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

That extra money will only be going to the officers that have direct supervision over the Marshall detainies.The majority of the officers working the block pods have no experience supervising this class of inmates.Joe is correct in his assessment of security problems about to happen.These are not Immigration Detainees.This class of CONS have no rules. They know the system.Good luck to the floor officers.Head of Household has no expierence housing them.

Anonymous said...

FLOOR OFFICERS? HOW ABOUT THE 2 OFFICERS IN A VAN WITH 8 OR 9 OF THESE CONS DRIVING THEM BACK AND FORTH TO BALTIMORE IMO THESE SHOULD BE THE HIGHEST PAID.

Anonymous said...

I applaud this article and hope that Mr. Pollitt takes notice. These officers are overworked and underpaid. The detention center can not keep good personnel because they can not compete with surrounding facility pay. Didnt the sheriff's office just get upgraded to state trooper pay? And why is it that every year there are promotions put into the budget yet no one is promoted. People have worked the same position for 10+years without any type of promotion. That is outrageous for the type of work that is done there. The county needs to support its correctional officers as they are the suppliers of the largest income in the county.

Anonymous said...

will we start to see CON-AIR flights coming in and out of the airport?

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:17 You must be an employee in transportation at the detention center.I would like to believe that the marshalls will be handling transports.Check it out. Anon 1206 Your Head of House Hold never supported ur increases nor will he ever suporrt the staff period. Anon 1253 You jusgt might be correct.

Anonymous said...

11:17 THE MARSHALLS WILL BE HANDLING IT? IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW THEY JUST INCREASED THE AMOUNT THAT THEY WILL HOUSE HERE. MAYBE YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT. AND NO I DO NOT WORK FOR THE COUNTY NOR WOULD I.

Anonymous said...

The detention center has been housing federal marshal inmates for the last 6-7 years. Only difference is now there will be more. I wonder if the staff knows about these raises the paper is alluding to? Or if it just BS that the public is being told and the money that the Detention Center is allegedly going to pay it's officers is going to be used for other projects? Cause really.. a week or so from now... no one will ever find out if it is true or not.. they will just remember that the paper said the officers will be paid more and assume that it is factual. And I think we all know that most of what comes out as official PR about the Detention Center in in fact BS.

Anonymous said...

The marshalls do not handle the transportation. It is taken care of by the county detention center transportation with county vehicle and gas, and it has been that way for some time. On a weekly basis.

Unknown said...

Know one seems to get it!! It's all about the bottom line; MONEY! The Director nor Rick Pollitt gives a damn about the employees at the Detention center. All they give is lip service which is nothing but BS. All the upper level bosses out there care about is themselves. There was only one man out there that cared for the employees he commanded and Stevee Prettyman and the Director eliminated him to satisfy their own egos. This county will never wise up.

co3153 said...

WCDC transportation officers do ALL the transports for US Marhall detainees. All officers deal with and work with the detainess. What has not been answered as to why the misinformation as to pay. Also a good question would be as to why the officers have piss poor equipment to work with. The ONLY promotions since 2002 was the recent hiring of Thomas Kimble as Chief of Security. Since that time many people have left without the posistion being filled. 1.
asst. warden of booking 2. three sergeants 3. one Lt. 4. One Community Corrections officer. The new Chief of Security has been trying to get the center cleaned and painted. Why is he able to get funds to do this now? Why was the detention center allowed to sink to such depths? The officers and inmates alike would do all that is needed to keep the center clean, they have BEGGED to have needed supplies. Why have uniforms always been an issue? Lets take name tags for example. In the issued uniform list a officer is to be issued a name tag. The reality is that a officer Must buy a name tag that they are required to wear. Same with collar pins. I know of one officer that was issued one pair of pants four years ago and told that he would get more when the order came in. Guess what, he still has only one pair of pants. One pair for four years and is now being told that since new uniforms are being ordered he no longer can get any pants. Not to compare one department to another, but why can the sherriffs dept. get a relacement uniform within 3 days and also get all their uniforms dry cleaned at no cost. Are correctional officers a lower class than a deputy. Correctional officers have to deal with criminals day in and out with no more protection than a pen and radio. All officers have to be pepper spray qualified but are told that they can not use or carry for their own protection. In the past year three correctional officers have been injured on the job by inmates which resulted in lost time. All the injuries could have been prevented with the officer having the ability to protect themselves and others. Yes others for it is the duty of every officer to prevent injuries to inmates also. Please someone answer these questions or at least hold the administration of WCDC accountable.

Anonymous said...

we already have 56 feds there. we are only getting 48 more. the paper says 104 is the max, but this numbers is bound to rise once they figure how much more money they can make by accepting more. it takes 5 years to reach $17/hr there; these are called master correctional officers (mco's). if all of these inmates are to be segregated, where are they going to put them? they have been housed on all of the blocks this entire time. there are not enough mco's to watch just the feds. many times there are just uncertified officers supervising these blocks with more than one hundred inmates on them. the public has been duped into thinking that this is all new when it is not. the only new thing for us is that we just found out that we were supposed to be getting $17/HR this whole time and are to have just got a $5/hr pay raise. This would be nice if it were to be true, but will also be forgiven if it is corrected. If we are not all getting $22/hr even though we are certified and are working with the feds, then at least give us the $5/hr pay raise. feds have rioted there before and are very dangerous; but seriously, the crazies we house are just as bad and are sometimes more of a danger than any fed. if you think $22 is too much, think about going to work where you can get shanked without any weapon to defend yourself and having to call for a supervisor for some pepper spray. do you think the inmate is going to wait until the supervisor comes? also, you get shit and piss thrown at you all the time and even without realizing it, you may end up touching someones hiv infected blood when you have to be in or break up a fight which may also contain another blood borne pathogen as hep-b or mrsa. still think we don't deserve it?

Anonymous said...

Where did the extra accomodations come from? I recall being told once that this class of prisoner is garanteed a bed because the feds are paying for it. If there are more prisoners that beds than regular prisoners have to sleep in the floor and any where they can find because the federal prisoners have to have beds and other accomodations even if the are illegal citizens, which a lot of them are. Why doesn't that surprise me, Illegals with beds and americans sleeping in the floor. Does anyone else think something is wrong with that picture or is it just me?

Anonymous said...

We all know that Devenyns is going to keep the extra funds for himself so he can fund excursions to Florida to see his former "Head" Nurse Jean Murry of whom he has carried on a tautry affair with for many years. From descrete romantic encounters in his office to weekend getaways on the countys dime when will his wife wake up and take his house from him and give him the boot....

Anonymous said...

ANON 5:36 Thats the reason he left Southern Md. Jail.

Anonymous said...

All of these officers should be paid more than the Sheriffs Deputies. They deal with them all day while the deputies run or call 10 back up cars for a 16 year old drunk.

Anonymous said...

I hope they get more money than just 22 an hour. I can't think of any other job that is more important. The police do good to. They have to catch the bad guys. But they don't deal with bad guys everyday like a correction officer. That is such a mentally challenging career that I could never do. I commend them for trying to see if they can do it. I feel that those that can do it should be paid way more than 50k a year. These guys are real heroes that can't ever get any good recognition unless it is to bring the county more money. Since the jail brings in more money by having Federal inmates, then the employees there should get a bigger chunk of the pay. They are doing the dirty work, so why shouldn't they have one perk in their career. Mr. Albero, please help shed a brighter light on those that battle with the scum of society for a living. I don't just mean the cops, but the correctional officers that are hidden away from the publics eye until something goes wrong. Let's congratulate them for every day that something doesn't go wrong. That alone is a miracle itself since the facility is the 5th largest in the entire state of Maryland and is the largest county jail on the Eastern Shore. Thanks Joe.

Anonymous said...

11am
all of the officers have direct supervision of federal inmates.

Anonymous said...

The Warden has been having sex with female inmates since he started at the county he brings them to his office and demands sex or they will get more time. If they comply he comutes their sentence or grants them work release. he also lets them see their kids on weekends in the "Sit" program at his descresion the warden is a sexual preditor and needs to be fired

Anonymous said...

I am an employee at the detention center. I do not and will not speak in my official capacity. As a citizen, I absolutely support the right of free speech. However, free speech ends where damage begins. The comment regarding Director Devenyns being a sexual predator who preys on female inmates crosses the line into slander...or since it is written down..into liable. It also maligns a program that is beneficial to inmates, their children, and the community as a whole. If proof of these allegations exists, bring it forth. Slinging mud about without foundation or evidence is not only foolish, it is cruel. To do so from the veil of anonymity is cowardly.

Anonymous said...

Ok Captain Ruth Coulbourne we all know your record you were cool even though you live the alternative lifestyle but thats personal.
As for your business it is well known by all employees that you are the hand for the puppet Roselyn Roberts the deputy director without a clue.
She does not make a single thought without your consult.
This is true Joe they can be easily seen out at the smoking area by the commissioners office daily
Do note you did not dispute Devenyns screwing Nurse Jean Murry.
This is because you know Roselyn saw what she saw and spoke to you about it.HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM...
At least when you were on the jail side you took up for your troops. You sure have changed

Anonymous said...

at one time in 2005 the county jail had 32 officers who were not certified due to neglect by the previous investigator and the warden the training commission had devenyns on the carpet and gave him a couple of months to correct the problem this was corrected by two members of the traing staff at that time who received a commendation fro none other than mr coulbourne the problem was an inmate died while being or not being watched in ythe infirmary during that time guess what a non certified officer was watching that inmate bet his family would like to know that, i guess the extra money for the federal inmates just went out the window, some of these non certified officers had been working for several years and had never had a complete finger print background check done and completed when the prints came back unreadable they were just put in a drawer and hoped that they would never be opened, as for mrs. roberts she spends most of the day straighting her wig and smoking, while tring to remove coulbournes head out of her ass. not a clue at a recent class graduation at wor wic college she stood up at stated her name and title when she finished her time was up, what a joke

Anonymous said...

As life goes...There is always a little truth to every rumor !

Anonymous said...

As the County Council says.... If you do not like the jail house i am sure their is plenty of work at our many chicken houses on DELMARVA.

Suggestion if you want to work Corrections it is best you head in a southernly direction: ECI, or Snow Hill.

The rich power players running Wicomico County do not want to share the bounty with you. Accept the fact you all are second class employees to this bunch. Union?

Anonymous said...

You make a pact with the devil expect to get the fork. Why does the county pay ... Roslyn Roberts? She is in the position as DeputyDirector because the Jail fired her husband for making a leud comment about his package that was heard. The proper termination procedures were not followed and out of fear of being sued the pact with the devil was made. So the County pays over 75 k for someone to do nothing. If she knew what she was doing she should of been the Director after Develynns departure. Cut the fat from the pay rolls and pay those Officers at the jail who do their jobs. Quit pitch forking the tax payers with this back room deal.

Anonymous said...

Rick Politt came up with a plan to save money by offering early retirement offers, for the employees who are age 55. You get credit for working 5 additional years 10% added to the years you already have earned.
Close to 80 employees of the county are eligible. I say reduce the retirement age to 50yrs old this action will reduce top heavy salaries, and save the county money.and if look at all departments alot of worthless fat needs to be trimmed from the payrolls.

Anonymous said...

The County Executive pigeon holes close to 10 million a year to add to the non-committed undesignated fund. Monies not used will be carried over. My question were is the money deficeit ? Why are their furloughs? No cost of living increases? No pay raies? Reason ...old fashion GREED. They can TCO a department or two each year and due the correct ethnical duty to those whom are employed by Wicomico County. Cutting top heavy fat will help as well,use the money saved by offering 50 year of age retirement and let the old dogs RIP and keep the burden off the youth and the tax payers of the county.

Anonymous said...

Simple jail house rock math:
Roberts 80k does nothing
Moore 70k does nothing
Kimbel 75k Chief of Dust removal
Foreman 65k What does he do?
OMG that is a waist of 290k per year.How many of the little people could get paid at least 5k to cover cost of living expenses by spreading out this saved money to the Correctional Officers whom actually work? 290 / 5k = 58 officers Wow

Anonymous said...

"We need to make every effort possible to ensure the county attacts and retains the brightness Officers.That is County Sheriffs because their is a chance that these people may not come home at night and we need to support the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System (LEOPS)" Rick Politte REF. Wicomico County Yearly review pamphlet. What about the Correctional Officers? They share the same risk as the Sheriffs right? Wrong the powers to be are overly concerned with its talent leaving for the state police. As for Corrections they seem to careless if officers depart Wicomico for Snow hill or ECI becareful one day you will not have no one working at Naylor Mill Road with over 5 years of work exp.