10 top officials in Florida Dept of Corrections fired in corruption probe

[philb]

March 15, 2006, 1:20PM The Associated Press
Florida Corrections Chief Fires 9 at Top
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's new Corrections Department chief, brought in to clean up a scandal-ridden system, fired nine prison officials Wednesday, including the warden at Florida State Prison and the assistant warden at the system's medical center.
Corrections Secretary James McDonough said warden Michael Rathmann and assistant warden Lamar Griffis "do not have my trust and confidence."
In all, two regional directors, four wardens and three assistant wardens were dismissed Wednesday.
McDonough's housecleaning followed a report Tuesday from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that concluded McDonough's predecessor, James Crosby, tried to shut down an investigation into possible criminal activity among employees in the prison system.
The department came under scrutiny after officers were arrested on steroid abuse charges and some were accused of sexual assault. There were also questions about prison contracts and hiring, including one employee allegedly hired only to help a prison softball team.

Corrections head Crosby forced out
By JOE FOLLICK and KAREN VOYLES
N.Y. Times Regional Media Group February 11. 2006 6:01AM

TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush dismissed Department of Corrections Secretary James V. Crosby Friday as state law enforcement agents secured his office for investigation purposes.

A multi-pronged federal and state investigation into the agency is in its second year. Though officials with the statewide prosecutor's office, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said there had been no new arrests or indictments related to the agency or Crosby on Friday, sources close to the investigation said indictments were likely in the near future.

For months, the governor has been effusively supportive of Crosby as controversies increased within the department. That support apparently evaporated quickly in recent days. Bush asked for Crosby's resignation Friday morning. Crosby was notified of the governor's decision with a call from a member of Crosby's staff to his cell phone while he was driving. Crosby had little to say Friday afternoon.

At the same time Crosby was turning in his resignation letter Friday morning, agents of the FDLE took charge of his office and inventoried the contents, according to sources close to the investigation. Bush's office gave no reason for the dismissal other than a statement from spokeswoman Alia Faraj: "We have been cooperating with law enforcement and the governor acted as soon as it was appropriate."

[MSgt213]

1. Dude where's the link?

[NYC]

2. Here's a link:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/3725511.html

Edit:
And a link to SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/03/15/national/a111956S36.DTL

[1monster]

3. This is an on going scandal. Apparently, the Florida State Department

of Corrections has been run like a crime syndicate's own little fiefdom...

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kurovski]

5. Slow and steady wins the race.

Ain't that right?

[libodem]

6. Thank you, God

I've seen some film clips on the internet of the prisoner abuse. Lots of tear gas punishment. Lots of abuse with stun guns. Saw a prisoner with what looked like burns over 60% of of his body from being gassed. Those restraint chairs cause blood clots and the spit hoods look restrictive, too. Those Bush boys sure love the torture aspects of being the boss.

[saigon68]

7. The Bush Boys get Sexually aroused at the sight of torture

The chimpanzee must have spent hours looking at shit like this from Abu Ghraib




They also like nakedness and bondage.