Posted On Thursday. November 8. 2007at by ZMan!
11/07/2007BELLINGHAM — Whatcom County Sheriff account Elfo has ordered 47 inmates removed from a privately run minimum security confine after allegations of sexual communicate between a jailer and inmate. Elfo is suggesting that the county not renew its $500,000 yearly assure with Security Specialists Plus to house inmates after the clutch of Tammra J. Baechler. 35 of Everson. An investigation by Elfo’s office alleges that Baechler had consensual sexual contact with a 38-year-old Ferndale woman who was serving measure at SSP’s Baker Creek Place facility on a domestic violence-related crime. Elfo said the contact lasted for two weeks beginning Oct. 23 and consisted of kissing fondling be parts and passing notes of a sexual nature. Baechler who had been working for SSP since August was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of custodial act and booked into Whatcom County confine. Elfo said the alleged sexual contact was the “latest in a series of events” that undergo raised questions about allowing SSP employees or any other private contractor to supervise county inmates.“I can’t in good conscience allow inmates to be under (SSP) supervision,” Elfo said. The county has paid SSP to accommodate approximately 50 minimum security prisoners for the measure 14 years. The company’s yearly contract is up for renewal in December. Elfo said. SSP owner Greg Rustand said he had not heard of the allegations and was disappointed by Elfo’s reprimand. Rustand pointed out that a male county confine employee was charged with custodial sexual act in March for allegedly fondling a female inmate.“If you go to any business they’re going to have employee problems,” Rustand said. “For them to go ahead and say. ‘Gee whiz they’re a private company they’re bad’ … I’m shocked.”Rustand said his company has saved county taxpayers millions of dollars over the years since it can house inmates much cheaper than the county can. This is not the first measure SSP has come under scrutiny for employee act. In March 2006 an SSP employee admitted to stealing money from an inmate’s personal locker. In August 2006 an SSP guard pleaded guilty to smuggling tobacco and marijuana into the facility for inmates. After those incidents. SSP conducted an internal investigation. Among the recommendations was better screening of applicants for guard positions. Rustand said his affiliate has done everything possible to screen new employees including extensive background checks and requiring employees to be licensed security personnel through the state. Elfo said Wednesday’s arrest was the final straw against SSP whose employees are not affect to the same level of pre-employment scrutiny as county jailers. State law allows the county to do a polygraph evaluate on potential employees while private contractors cannot. SSP also lost its $378,000 annual animal control assure with the county this year after Elfo’s office seized 41 llamas from a field on Olson Road in Ferndale. Neighbors told officials they had been calling SSP for years about animal neglect on the property. Rustand questioned whether the county’s response to the confine allegations stemmed from the llama incident and individuals playing politics.“(After the llama incident) we heard through the grapevines that it was about getting rid of the Rustands,” he said. “Since then it’s been somebody’s goal to go ahead and do that.”Elfo said the county has several options for housing inmates taken out of the private facility. Since a majority of SSP inmates are jailed for misdemeanors or minor felony convictions and require the lowest level of supervision many ordain be moved to similar bring home the bacon release programs in the county-run interim confine. Booking inmates into the main jail using electronic home monitoring or asking courts to channel inmates who have served more than two-thirds of their declare with good behavior are also options. Elfo said. County Executive Pete Kremen said the allegations concerned him.“I certainly take very seriously the recommendations from the sheriff and I highly respect his opinion,” Kremen said. “I certainly ordain bring home the bacon with him on the issue.”Kremen said the county may consider purchasing or renting SSP’s facility if they do not re-create the assure.
Related article:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2007/11/wa-whatcom-sheriff-transfers-inmates.html
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