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Sheriff and deputy resign over death trap jail

Typhon

Typhon

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,107
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47643626

An Oklahoma sheriff and all of her deputies have quit in protest of dangerous - possibly lethal - conditions at an old rural county jail.
Nowata County Sheriff Terry Barnett said the dilapidated jail had near-toxic carbon monoxide and mould levels and no fire alarms, among other issues.
Prisoners have been housed in another jail since the end of February due to these safety concerns.
The officers quit after a judge ordered them to return prisoners to the jail.
At a news conference on Monday, Ms Barnett announced that she, along with her undersheriff, deputies, head dispatcher and the majority of the jail staff, were resigning over the "inexcusable" conditions.
The rural jail's carbon monoxide levels were just two points away from lethal and four employees had been taken to hospital as a result, she said. The jail has been closed since that incident.
Other problems at the facility include exposed wiring with outlets that have shocked inmates, no surveillance cameras, faulty sewage lines with methane leaks, inadequate staffing and even "an episode of a snake falling on the head of a prisoner when opening a door".
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Z-Beat

Z-Beat

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
31,842
The title made it sound like they were forced to resign over the conditions, not that they resigned in protest of the conditions
 
adj_noun

adj_noun

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
17,182
Qtor3qf.jpg
 
Bonefish

Bonefish

Member
Oct 28, 2017
4,695
Jesus. Based off the thread title, I just assumed that they themselves had set up death traps in the jail
 
samoyed

samoyed

Banned
Oct 26, 2017
15,191
I thought it was going to be about prisoner abuse.

Good for them, and this could've been a lot worse given the title.
 

Deleted member 3058

User requested account closure
Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,728
Good on the sheriff/deputies for standing up..that said...

That judge really ordered those prisoners back to potentially lethal conditions?

How does someone that lacking in basic human decency still have a job?
 
DrForester

DrForester

Mod of the Year 2006
Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,653
Totally read the title thinking these guys put together Saw-like traps in their prison for entertainment...
 
Koo

Koo

Member
Dec 10, 2017
1,863
Was reading about this earlier today; that judge is corrupt af. Offering bribes of money and a trip and such for the sheriff to send these prisoners back to basically leathal conditions. She is right that it wasn't even a matter of if, but when someone died because of this. The carbon monoxide level alone is near lethal levels. Hope that judge is heavily investigated; maybe he'd like to spend a little while in this death trap if he thinks it's so safe?
 
Vilix

Vilix

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
6,055
Texas
Hollywood Duo said:
Yeah its a BBC article. Kind of a strange source for a rural Oklahoma court drama.
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Yeah, thought that was a little strange. But the BBC is one of the best. And it's refreshing to see US police actually give a damn. I first thought there were inmate death battles going on when I read the title. Tbh, I wouldn't have been surprised.
 
Kin5290

Kin5290

Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,390
The title is pretty misleading. Good on Sheriff Barnett and her deputies for taking a stand.
 
OP
OP
Typhon

Typhon

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,107
Vilix said:
Yeah, thought that was a little strange. But the BBC is one of the best. And it's refreshing to see US police actually give a damn. I first thought there were inmate death battles going on when I read the title. Tbh, I wouldn't have been surprised.
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Do they give a damn or are they just worried about their own safety?
 
Vilix

Vilix

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
6,055
Texas
Typhon said:
Do they give a damn or are they just worried about their own safety?
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I wouldn't be surprised if they quit to cover their own ass from civil liability. I'd like to think they genuinely cared. But so far I haven't scene evidence of cops doing so. When it happens it's usually in front of cameras on Live PD.
 
Baji Boxer

Baji Boxer

Chicken Chaser
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Oct 27, 2017
11,379
Vilix said:
I wouldn't be surprised if they quit to cover their own ass from civil liability. I'd like to think they genuinely cared. But so far I haven't scene evidence of cops doing so. When it happens it's usually in front of cameras on Live PD.
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Doubt liability had anything to do with it. They had to work there too.
 
Akira86

Akira86

Member
Oct 25, 2017
19,585
I'm relieved, and glad to know there are people in the system that have some level of care.
 
Kin5290

Kin5290

Member
Oct 26, 2017
3,390
Vilix said:
I wouldn't be surprised if they quit to cover their own ass from civil liability. I'd like to think they genuinely cared. But so far I haven't scene evidence of cops doing so. When it happens it's usually in front of cameras on Live PD.
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From the looks of it the sheriff turned down multiple attempts from that judge at what she considered to be offers to bribe her to look the other way considering the jail.
 
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