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Friday, June 12, 2009
Jail Union Bosses Face Allegations
By T.J. Wilham
Journal Staff Writer
The top union leaders for Metropolitan Detention Center correctional officers have been accused of using excessive force against inmates.
The president, Stephen Perkins, was placed on administrative leave about a week ago pending an investigation, while the vice president, Eric Allen, was fired in January. Allen is appealing his termination.
Perkins said the charges are retaliation for speaking out against jail policies. He said he was placed on leave a few days after he sent out a newsletter questioning the actions of two deputy chiefs, and said Allen was fired after both men spoke out during a County Commission meeting about the number of assaults against correctional officers by prisoners.
"We know this stuff is going to happen. You can't be involved in unions and point out people's faults without this happening," said Perkins, who has been president of the Bernalillo County Correctional Officers Association the past 6 1/2 years "I am surprised it took them this long. Without a doubt, we will be back to work."
MDC Director Ron Torres said the investigations were not retaliatory.
"We don't look at the person behind the incident, we look at the incident," Torres said. "If there is a problem, we deal with the individuals."
Perkins said the investigations involve four incidents, including one that occurred about two years ago.
Jail officials say the allegations involve "use of force." An internal investigation into Allen's case has been completed, while the internal investigation against Perkins is ongoing.
But jail officials have said little else and have declined to release surveillance video of the incidents.
They have asked the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department to conduct a criminal investigation. Sheriff's officials said they had received a request to investigate but had not gone through all the paperwork.
Perkins said the incidents involved cases in which he and Allen restrained inmates who were trying to escape, attack guards or assault other inmates.
He said inmates were wrestled to the ground in all four cases.
Perkins said Allen's first incident occurred in 2007. The second occurred a year later. Allen wasn't disciplined until January, a few days after he was involved in a presentation to the commissioners.
Perkins said he was involved in two incidents, both of which occurred on the same day in April and both involved an inmate being handcuffed. In one of those incidents, an inmate was handcuffed and shackled.
"There was (use of) force, but none of the incidents were excessive," Perkins said. "We have inmates who sometimes we have to use force (on), and they say it is excessive. There were no injuries. We did not ... start pounding people."
Perkins' union newsletter "The Truth" accused one deputy chief of hiring his wife and allowing her to take 26 days off in a four-month period.
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