The citizens of Wicomico County should understand how their tax dollars are spent. WCDC is the largest county jail on the eastern shore and wastes a whole lot of tax dollars on ridiculous things. The Director gets his own Crown Vic with police lights provided by the tax payers. Why does a Director need a Police Crown Vic to drive back and forth to work? The Inmates need to have a freshly painted living area? WCDC needs a new drop ceiling installed in the hall ways? Need to pay Officers overtime so inmates can go to gym or so an Officer can clean? Do we really need to have 2 Majors, a Captain, 2 lieutenants, a Sergeant, a Colonel and a Director there Monday through Friday on one shift? Do we really need an Officer on the weekend that collects and inventories inmates garbage so the inmate can get a free snack? Yes, Officers have to collect and inventory trash. Inmates have been flushing commissary wrappers down the toilet and damaging the sewage grinder causing it to overflow and have to be pumped out at tax payers expense. Instead of stop selling the inmates the commissary which Aramark provides, the tax payers bought every inmate a little plastic trash can for their cell. Did this work? No. Inmates are still flushing the trash causing the sewage grinder to become damaged at tax payers expense. Does the Officers collecting and inventorying the garbage work? No. Who pays for the free snack that the inmates get when they actually do save their trash? Yup, the tax payers. Did WCDC really need a nice new paint sprayer when Inmates could have used a roller? Did WCDC need to buy all the inmates new uniforms and shoes? Did the tax payers have to buy every inmate who took a “parenting class” a twenty dollar phone card? Seems that was the only reason they even took the class, a bribe. Jail just doesn’t seem so bad. Yes you loose your freedom but you get a free place to stay, 3 meals, if you have some money you can buy commissary, free medical and dental care, free mental health care, unless you have some money then medical services are 4 dollars. Inmates who work in the Kitchen get to make their own food and eat as much as they like. Inmates get free cable TV, work release has a huge flat screen TV, pool table, vending machines, and a ping pong table.
The Wicomico County Department of Corrections is in complete turmoil. The Officers are constantly punished and treated worse than the Inmates housed there. Officers who work here are not paid very well and have not seen a pay raise in 8 years nor have they seen a cost of living adjustment. WCDC does not pay its Officers time and a half after working over 40 hours but instead pays time and a half after working 171 hours in a 28 day cycle as described in the County Personnel Manual. This is the only department that operates its overtime like this as other law enforcement agencies get overtime after 40 hours.
WCDC contracts out the food service to ARAMARK which includes the kitchen and commissary. Commissary is extra food the inmates can buy to include sodas, whole pizzas, chicken or burgers and fries, noodles, candy, and hygiene items. ARAMARK runs this service and makes all the money from this not WCDC. If WCDC ran this service the county would see all the profit not ARAMARK.
44 comments:
First of you are not law enforcement. Secondly, you don't like it? Go elsewhere. Most of the guards are criminals themselves
One or two points here are valid.the rest is actually understandable.seems to me like just more rants so someone can hear themselves talk.whats next? County k9 dogs eat to much kibble on tax dimes?
A bit off topic but the reference to ARAMARK reminds me of something I just recently heard on a radio talk show.
A man retired from the Pennsylvania prison system called and told how at one time the prisons in PA had dairy and meat operations including raising the animals and a processing plant to butcher. The food was for the inmates and they also provided the labor. Then Gov Tom Ridge was "convinced" (hefty campaign donations) by some institutional food service company that PA needs to change and go with a company to provide meat and dairy products for security reasons and this exercise in being somewhat self sufficient was discontinued and a company now provides these items.
So see---this is how it all works-follow the money is the name of the game.
point being?
To the writer of this letter,
If you are that upset about the operational and administrative procedures @ WCDC, why not use the greivance process, speak to someone @ HR or hire an attorney. To air your (And, I do mean your) dirty laundry against WCDC on this blog is your right according to the 1st amendment. However, this is downright selfish. Did you ever considered the affect this letter will have on the CO's who work @ WCDC. The retributions they will have to face from the upper echleons because of you. You're a tax paying citizen of Maryland. All that you speak of maybe true. But, what ideas have you brouht to the Director's table the employees and tax paying citizens of Wicomico County could benefit from. Probably nothing. Your just another selfish, disgruntle and unfortunate person once again, airing their WCDC dirty laundry on this blog. Go find a job somewhere else. We don't need this kind of negativity. To many CO's careers can be affected by this comment.
Membership is also free.
its against policy for staff to disclose info about the WCDC operations
Major R Elliott
You commentors amaze me. Wicomico County is on the verge of financial collapse and all you can find in this post is a reason to criticize it? These are valid concerns and monumental wastes of money of true. This is exactly the kind of waste that needs to be taken seriously. This is why the revenue cap was put in place - to force our elected officials to live within a smaller budget. CUT THE WASTE!!! Stevie THIS is the kind of waste that needs to be cut. You say that the little things can't matter. Here are many little things that add up to a bigger total cost. And this is the tip of the iceberg. Rick Pollit it is YOUR job to stop this wasteful spending and your NOT doing it. You should be fired. This kind of waste goes on at every department at every level of government and it's about damn time the elected officials are held accountable for it. And Stevie if you can't grasp the fact that small cuts add up to big savings.....maybe you need to go too.
STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT WCDC. No one CARES. Not until there is a class action law suit.I agree with some of the comments on this issue.Stop wasting your time on the blogg and get some legal action going because HR and other management are a big part of the problem. The county thinks they will save the money by violating your rights now and worry about the law suit later.Eveen though 99% of what you say is true it is not being heard.People have a right to be able to work without being threatened everyday ,people have a right to work without being bullied by Admin, people have a right to work and be paid fairly.Those who have a problem with the airing out of dirty laundry will soon find out that the laundry is actully clean compared to what the Federal Goverment airs out.
Thank you 8:02 pm,
I agree. There are bigger issues to fry then this petty article about trash collecting and aramark.
There is a tremendous amount of waste from the training of staff. Staff go to Baltimore for training that they can get here in Salisbury.Training is exspensive considering paying the officer,county paying for meals and fuel. There is more waste with the transporting of inmates to Doc when DOC come to all the local detention centers for pickup.The biggest waste is Admin forcing out senior staff to replace them with DOC retires .
8:02 is right. Out of one side of everyone's mouth they complain about government waste and now out of the other when someone brings up valid points they complain.
Every agency needs someone to point out how budgets can be cut and possible new revue generated.
It's obvious we can not trust the department heads to do it nor the elected officials. We need the employees input. This is the best forum to do so, as they can remain anon.
Everyone praises Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Does anyone think for one second he would stand for inmates throwing snack wrappers down the commode? Snacks would be a quick thing of the past in Maricopa county if they aren't already since inmates are only served 2 meals a day in his jails.
And you better believe he would have had the inmates on the end of paint brushes.
Isn't jail supposed to be punishment and a deterent? Instead of being rewarded with a phone card for taking a class, why not take away a privledge when someone doesn't attend? That would be the common sense prudent way of operating?
The inmates should be forced to eat the horse they rode in on!
Like the Clint Eastwood movie, when the prisoners got released from prison, they asked where their horses were, and the jailer told them, "What do you think you've been eating for the last 6 months?"
Jails, detention centers and prisons are not places for punishment or a deterrent. It's a place where ciminals can recuperate from homelessness. Recieve treatment for medical issues, dental issues, and mental health issues. These facilities provides drug and alcohol treatment. Inmates can even resist responsibilities of the real world. Department of Corrections is a business. A business of defrauded the tax payer. They provide so much "reintergration" programs and treatment, our children will have to go to jail just to receive a free college education. The bottom line is, these facilities are a home away from home for most people. And, this alone is what's causing tax payers a lot of money. Housing a bunch of adults to do absolutely nothing during incarceration except eat, sleep and have bowel movements. What else are we going to do with people who do not want to abide by the laws.
The big question is, how the department of corrections treat their employees. 5:54 pm is fearful for he/she co workers concerning retribution and retailation. 8:02 pm speaks of bullying, hostile environment and pay differential. Let's also include gender, race, age, promotional, job assignment and evaluation bias. If one want to speak the truth, let's talk
about the good 'ole boy dinosaur command staff that has created this problem from day one. The very one (7:24 pm) and his lackey's who have divided the house creating havoc amongst inmates vs co's, co's vs co's and special assignments co's vs co's. If you people want to put the truth out, tell the truth.
This is and will always be an African American run jail , prisoners and staff are buddies and supplied with any and all things to make it comfortable for the inmates. If you don't like it , then try to change it , you can't!
Just like Obama , he's here to stay!
1:08 pm,
Come on. This is truly not an African American run jail. Let's be real. How can one change anything when they have people like you complaining. Divide and conquer is there trade. And, you are giving them the tools to do it.
1:08 pm,
If this was true they sure don't have a voice. It is a male dominating do as I say attitude type environment. There are more decision making males in position of authority then any group in the facility. Folks below the Admin Lt position have no voice. If they did you would not be on this blog complaining. The truth is you don't want to know the truth. You just want to create division based on race. This is exactly what the 'ole jail administration want. Divide them so we can conquer them. Meanwhile the admin stay put. They have been in place for many years. This is why this place is in turmoil.
it looks to me that you get paid to work, so, work. dont go in there cry and complain,just do what you signed up to do, thats right you signed up to work there, suck it up and do what YOU asked for. A JOB. just because you are held acountable for your activities. sorry you cant just sit on your ass and eat. the state has the same problems if not ask one that works there. if you cant do your job without crying about the admin. just leave. i know someone who NEEDS a job and would do it better. and would appreciate the job. it seems you have no loyality to anything but complaining. the best way to fix problems is to start at the bottom and show the admin you want the job and prove to them they cant bring the people down to the dirt.
i guess it is easier to complain than do the job you ASKED for. and people wonder why the country is in the shape its in now........
Detention Center waste is off the chain. There are several staff that are employed there that do nothing.There is a K-9 officer that does nothing. There is a heath and safty officer that does nothing. 3 intel officers that do nothing.A standards officer that is way over paid that does nothing but file docunemts. 2-3 maids that supervise inmates that clean.1 major that does nothing.These positions could be used to decrease open positions.1 secretary that is used by the major that does very little. All this waste goes on daily while some staff slave their way through the day while others are on paid vacation.Downtown needs to take a hard look at how the department heads are using employee positions .They need to see it for themselves and not take the department heads word for it.Inmate funds are used to justify most waste at the detention center. Money is money .Who cares where it comes from.This day and time its not about where the money is coming from ,its about where its going. The money should be used to releive some of the burden from tax payers.
9:14 am,
Now your talking about the real problems at this facilty. Keep it up. Here's where the tax paying money is going to waste. Finally, the truth is being told. Finally.
Thank you 9:14 am.
Thank you.
Correct that, you good 'ole boy dinosaur from the old jail command staff.
You guys created these special positions for your favorite boys and girls.
They are co's who needs to work the block instead of sitting behind a desk playing computer spades.
You ole frats created this mess.
Correct it.
There are plenty of non essential personnels that can do their jobs.
Utilizing those high paying behind the desk co's will surely reduce overtime along with the work release and transportation co's.
Reduction in overtime will save the tax payers a lot of money,
They are all co's.
Use them.
Maybe that new Admin Lt. can come up with a schedule that would suit the financial and security needs of the department.
It's about time someone stepped to the plate.
It's all about fairness.
Show your appreciation for the co's who have slaved on those blocks from 8 to 16 hours a day for years.
Central Booking now has a Supervisor which is the same Supervisor that released the wrong Inmate who ended up in a shoot out with the US Marshalls. That same supervisor is now in charge of Central Booking and is still releasing inmates. Is this in the best interest of public safety?
Officers are told to report 10-15 minutes early for roll call but on their own time not on the time clock getting paid. Supervisor go into the computer system and change everyone’s clock in time to the time they were to be on the clock meaning if one clocks in at 645 am but doesn’t start getting paid until 7am, the supervisor will change their clock in time to 7am.
Many FLSA lawsuits have involved employers failing to include time spent by employees performing work activities outside of their normal shifts. Some employees, for example, may "come early" and start working before the official start time of their shifts. Such time counts as work time and must be included in FLSA pay computations, provided only that the employer knew or should have known that the employee was beginning work early (and, of course, to the extent that the employee spent pre-shift time actually performing work activities). Pre-shift "roll calls" are work time.
it looks like that you employees, that cry on the website need to get a life, if you worked for me, i would fire your a_ _. whine to your momma. your most likely whine because you are lazy and dont want to work, just get paid. this is the only way you can get people to get your attention. Hey I hear the dollar store has a sale on diapers and bottles, go get them for your crying butt and quit, better yet take all your crying babies from that place and go live in MEXICO and cry....whaaaaa
Thank you 5:13 pm and 5:20 pm,
Keep advising the public of the truth.
The Wicomico County Department of Corrections is in complete turmoil. BECAUSE YOU PUT IT THERE...CRY BABIES
people are tired of you one or two employees dedicated to yourselves and sitting on your butts eating and collecting pay for nothing. whats the matter with your little brain? IF YOU ARE BEING WRONGED, GET A LAWYER OR SHUT UP......WHERE IS YOUR PROOF, SHOW THE JUDGE.
Sounds like some people do not like to hear the truth. This is not being a "cry baby". I believe this is speaking up about fair treatment and wasted money. Guess everyone could just take the easy way out and quit. Jobs are plentiful and easy to come by. Lets all just quit and live off of the government. Wicomico County is in a financial mess. Tax payers like myself like to know where my money is going.
How in the world do you know it's the truth 7:41pm, Oh you must be the one posting the so called TRUTH. OK, So it must be the truth.. your a joke...just like the rest of them....
8:32pm,
What 9:14am and 5:20pm are telling the truth. Most of you really don't care. That's ok. There are serious problems at this facility as mentioned above. If all the sitting behind the desk co's were made to do the job they were originally hired to do overtime will be cut in half. If the citizens of wicomico county knew how much of their tax paying money is spent on overtime your mouths would drop to the floor. The pay for co's is so low, it forces a lot of parents working at this facility to work overtime. No one wants to loss that. That's were the hostile comments are coming from. Some of us are tired of coming to work on time. Give this facility 100%. Just to watch other co's sit behind their desk and do nothing all day long. These people are paid the same as us. They don't have to deal with the stress that we do. Co's who work on shift don't even get weekends off These co's work monday - friday with weekends off or some get every other weekends off. Meanwhile co's on shift are subject to overtime. They are not. Paying overtime cost the county a lot of money. A lawsuit will cost even more. These truthful comment have cracked the ice. More comments might just break the ice.
Officers usually have little notice that they have to stay for another 8 hours(drafted). Officers are not drafted to cover essential post, but instead drafted so another Officer can clean, run gym or visitation, etc. This is a huge waste of tax payers money since the county is paying another Officer to work a non-essential post. WCDC, if they are short of Officers could cut some Inmate services for that day or not clean to save money by not drafting a Officer. Point being, draft only to cover necessary post.
The disposable vinyl gloves the Officers are supplied are labeled for food contact. The gloves are supposed to protect the Officers from bodily fluids but are labeled for food preparation and “not for medical use”. Most Officer's do not know this and I think they should be aware because these gloves are not protecting you very well. Gloves help to guard you from contracting a Inmates illness and possibly life-threatening viruses.Here is the gloves used:
http://www.safety-zone.com/loader.php?Item=505
Polyethylene Gloves. The food preparation gloves. WOW! This show just how much this administration cares about their employees. How about all that paint fumes the security staff and inmates are expose to.
There is nothing worse than someone tellig the truth and no one wanting to take the responsibility to push forward.The Admin Gov. officials already know whats going on but refuse to deal with the real issues .They want a smoking gun in every case of misconduct.Your not going to find a smoking gun in every case . It is their job to investigate and find out what is going on. They feel that they dont have to answer to the people or employees that dont have a face. (meaninng this blog)
This is a OSHA violation as the paint fumes are very hazardous especially when in an enclosed area with little air flow. The paint being used is an epoxy 50-100 bucks a gallon and smells awful. WCDC has inmates painting but does not supply them with the proper protection. Two of the painters have already became ill and one of the Inmates became so ill that he had to be transported to PRMC by ambulance and the bill forked over to the taxpayers. Read the MSDS on this pain.
Material Safety Data Sheet on the paint being used at WCDC:
http://www.paintdocs.com/webmsds/webPDF.jsp?SITEID=STORECAT&doctype=MSDS&lang=E&prodno=B58R600
OSHA Regulations:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owasrch.search_form?p_doc_type=STANDARDS&p_toc_level=1&p_keyvalue=1910
08:50 am,
The house is divided. And to top it off the bullying retribution and retailation has created a stressful hostile work environment. One person can't do this alone. A group can't do it together. The house is divided and controlled by fear. Who's willing to put their livlihood on the line for the majority. No one. Is there a whistleblower in the house.
can we please get relief from sgt ring
The attacks on each other need to stop. We need to take care of the real and present issues .The 2 or 3 at the top are the real problem .They dictate everything that is wrong in the Detention Center.They waste the tax payers money and resources.They are the biggest waste by being employed at WCDC. Just mention their names and listen to the criminal and unethical activities they have been involved in .Why would the County hire this kind of employee? Maybe they dont wont to know.Neglegent hiring pays good money. Its about time to get paid!
Totally disagree with 4:52pm,
The problem is middle managers who came from the old jail. This group created the speciality assignments for certain co's way before the arrival of the top two. Look at all of the co's who sit behind a desk all day long getting paid top dollars to do for example pass out inmate mail. Their off on weekends. They barely if ever work overtime. When they are really needed for real work think about who pulls them away to run silly errands for them. They are shielded from disciplinary matters. You say shut up to an inmate who has just cuss you out and they throw the book ay you. Most of these people files are spotless because they have been protected and covered up by these middle managers. They are only loyal to themselves and their lackeys. Two Directors have left this place because of that ole jail mentaility. Watch your back Big K and Little K. This group is using their minions to do their dirty work.
Sounds like 4:17 is the boyfriend or girlfriend of 1 of the 2.You dont have to be that smart to figure this thing out.The middle managers are the puppets of the top. If you have a problem with the middle managers your problem should also be with the top. Where do you think the crazy ideals come from? The crazy ideals dont come from wcdc they come from DOC. Apparently you have yet to be directly touched be the DOC Renagades but you will. Dont think for a minute your exempt from the abuse because your not. Its not a matter of if its a matter of when. Take it with a smile.
Still painting and wasting money that the county can use.The new Maint.know it all has cost the county a few dollar also. They love to spend the tax payers money. Just hired a DOC slacker in the Maint Dept. There is a trend a WCDC. Hire freinds,family and favorites dont forget the buddys that worked at Doc.
J. Sullivan and Harp grow-up that goes for the rest of you spoiled brats too. Your right there are some problems just as there are at any other job. for starters stop being anonymous and put it in writing, pull together as one, don't let supervisors Gingolds, Capz and some other talk to you like dirt then play inocent when the boss is around. If one of the sargents is suposed to work as the third busy hall and is not write it up. All of this blog stuff is for children that don't have the b*lls to stand up for them selves and what someone else to do the deed. WRITE IT UP!, name names, and most important, have the facts right! tell the truth and make copies. Work together and it can be done. Don't blame K, he is in his fantsy DOC Programs world and means well but dosnot have a clue on how a COUNTY jail is run, we are not Popular Hill but he donot get it. Besides who would yuo have run it? MCO Officer of the Year nails from hell, there is what I want to be like when I grow up. lol pull together, fight togeter, in writing! good luck, thank God i don't have your drama anymore
Sgt R. is mean as hell.Can't keep secrets.Loves to gossips.TERRIBLE supervisor.
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