Saturday, Jul. 05, 2008

Merced council may call for change in prison policy

By SCOTT JASON
sjason@mercedsun-star.com

Councilman John Carlisle thinks Bureau of Prisons administrators will share a good laugh if they read the City Council's resolution demanding policy changes to protect correctional officers.

Still, he said, it's vital that local leaders show that they're supporting Congressman Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and California's senators in asking that prison employees be able to wear stab-proof vests and even carry nonlethal weapons, like Tasers, batons or pepper spray, to protect themselves.

Two weeks ago, 22-year-old Jose Rivera was stabbed to death by two prisoners while he was locking down about 110 inmates by himself at U.S. Penitentiary Atwater, a high-security facility.

"It's a miracle more incidents don't happen," Carlisle said Friday.

During its 7 p.m. meeting Monday, the City Council will consider approving a two-page resolution asking that the prison administrators consider giving employees more protection.

Carlisle said he'd like to see it worded more strongly, though he declined to elaborate on how.

He criticized the local prison officials for remaining tight-lipped about what goes on behind the concrete walls north of Atwater.

"It concerns me because what goes on there affects the community," he said. "The administration hasn't been forthcoming. It's their way of trying not to get publicity."

It was revealed Wednesday by the officers' union that Bureau of Prisons Director Harley G. Lappin said that knife-resistant vests could be an option for some of the correctional officers across the country.

Carlisle believes refusing them that protection from the beginning is "pure stupidity."

Merced's council is considering the resolution at the request of Atwater resident Dave Anderson, also the father of an Atwater correctional officer.

Last year, his son was assaulted and had his jaw broken, requiring surgery.

Anderson said he plans to have every elected body in Merced County pass resolutions demanding changes within the prison system.

He's speaking out because his son can't for fear of repercussions. He wants friends and relatives of other correction officers attend the meeting as a showing of community support.

"The work needs to continue so that (the death) doesn't get swept under the rug," he said. "They have to address it. They can't ignore it."

Carlisle worries that Warden Dennis Smith will end the lockdown, sending the correctional officers into the same dangerous conditions that caused Rivera's death. Many of them may quit if that happens, he said, adding that one couldn't blame them.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.