Went to court on the 4th of November 2009 and we finally got a court date. The bad part is, its not till August 2010 but as I have told others the county will see just how patient the Sofraneks can be waiting for our day in court in front of a jury.

ANOTHER JAIL DISTURBANCE AND ADMIN A NO SHOW

LAST FRIDAY 3/16/2007, THE MAIN JAIL HAD ANOTHER MAJOR INCIDENT WHEN INMATES RIOTED. CELL DOORS WERE TIED SHUT WITH BED SHEETS SO OFFICERS COULD NOT ENTER THE CELLS, MATTRESSES WERE PUT IN FRONT OF THE CELL BARS TO PREVENT THE OFFICERS FROM USING LESS THAN LETHAL FORCE WEAPONS TO END THE DISTURBANCE.

THE INCIDENT WAS FINALLY ENDED BY THE USE OF A STING BALL GRENADE, WHICH INCLUDED A GAS. (A STING BALL GRENADE IS ALLOT LIKE A MILITARY GRENADE BUT WHEN IT EXPLODES IT RELEASES MANY SMALL HARD RUBBER BALLS AND A GAS. THE RUBBER BALLS ARE THE STINGING PART, VERY EFFECTIVE.)

ANYTIME THE USE OF FORCE IN A JAIL DISTURBANCE INCLUDES THE USE OF A STING BALL GRENADE AND GAS, THIS IS A MAJOR INCIDENT IN THE MERCED COUNTY JAIL.

THE OFFICERS ON DUTY AND THE SPECIALIZED CORRECTIONS S.E.R.T. TEAM DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PUTTING AN END TO THE DISTURBANCE WITH NO INJURIES TO STAFF OR INMATES.

WHAT BOTHERS ME IS AGAIN, NO ONE FROM CORRECTIONS ADMINISTRATION SHOWED UP TO OFFER ANY KIND OF HELP OR TAKE COMMAND DURING A MAJOR DISTURBANCE.

I AM SURE THE SHERIFF AND UNDER-SHERIFF WERE ALSO NOTIFIED AND THEY BOTH WERE A NO SHOW. THE SHERIFF DID SHOW UP THE NEXT DAY.

THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WHEN THE CORRECTIONAL COMMANDER OF THE FACILITY INVOLVED DIDN’T BOTHER RESPONDING TO THE EMERGENCY. HE GETS TO DRIVE A COUNTY CAR HOME JUST FOR THIS REASON. THIS WASN’T IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, IT WAS 6 P.M.

ALMOST THE SAME TYPE OF INCIDENT HAPPENED AT SANDY MUSH SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THE SAME CORRECTIONS COMMANDER DIDN’T BOTHER TO RESPOND TO THAT INCIDENT EITHER.

THEY ARE CALLED COMMANDERS SO THEY CAN MAKE COMMAND DECISIONS IN EMERGENCIES, IF NOTHING ELSE YOU SHOW UP TO SUPPORT THE STAFF ON DUTY.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK COMMANDER TOM SAAVEDRA FOR SHOWING CONCERN FOR THE OFFICERS ON DUTY IN THE JAIL. I GUESS HE WAS STILL IN THE BUILDING WHEN THE GAS WAS RELEASED AND SUFFERED SOME EFFECTS OF THE GAS COMING THROUGH THE VENT SYSTEM.

COMMANDER SAAVEDRA RESPONDED TO THE JAIL AND TOOK NOTICE THAT NONE OF THE OFFICERS ON DUTY HAD ACCESS TO GAS MASKS EVEN THOUGH THESE OFFICERS HAD TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN THE CONTAMINATED AREA. FROM WHAT I WAS TOLD, ON MONDAY COMMANDER SAAVEDRA SHOWED UP AT THE JAIL WITH SEVERAL GAS MASKS FOR FUTURE INCIDENTS.

EVEN THOUGH TOM IS A PATROL COMMANDER HE SHOWED CONCERN FOR THE OFFICERS WORKING THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION. I AM SURE THE OFFICERS THAT WORK THE JAIL ARE GRATEFUL.

IT IS TO BAD THAT KIND OF CONCERN DINT COME FROM OTHERS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO MAKE SURE THE OFFICERS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT FOR THEM TO BE SAFE AND DO THEIR JOB.

IF ANY OF THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS NOT ACCURATE, PLEASE LEAVE SOME COMMENTS SO I CAN CORRECT MY POST.

MY SUIT AGAINST MERCED COUNTY

I RECEIVED GOOD NEWS YESTERDAY 1/17/2007.

LAST FRIDAY 1/12/2007, MY APPEAL FOR MY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY AND THE SHERIFF WAS HEARD IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT APPEALS COURT IN FRESNO.

TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY, MY LAWSUIT DEALT WITH THE PROMOTION OF ANOTHER CORRECTIONAL SERGEANT WHO DIDN’T EVEN TEST FOR THE POSITION.

WHEN I GRIEVED THIS PROMOTION TO THE COUNTY, I WAS TOLD HIS PROMOTION WAS PART OF A LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT HIS WIFE HAD FILED AND WON AGAINST THE SHERIFF AND UNDER SHERIFF AT THE TIME AND IT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF STUPIDVISORS.

WHEN I SAW I WAS GETTING NOWHERE WITH MY GRIEVANCE, I FILED A LAWSUIT. JUDGE HANSEN DISMISSED MY SUIT BECAUSE THE COUNTY CONVINCED HIM I HAD NOT FILED MY SUIT WITHIN THE SIX-MONTH TIME LIMIT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, YESTERDAY THE APPEALS COURT IN FRESNO REVERSED JUDGE HANSEN’S DECISION.

WHAT THIS MEANS, I WILL NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET MY SUIT BACK INTO COURT AND HAVE A JURY HEAR EVERYTHING. INCLUDING SOME INFORMATION ONLY MY ATTORNEY AND MYSELF KNOW.

IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE I STARTED THIS PROCESS BUT BOTH MY WIFE AND I WERE DETERMINED TO STICK WITH THIS AND TAKE IT ALL THE WAY. NOW WE WILL HAVE OUR DAY IN COURT.

TO ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE THE COUNTY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DECISIONS.

FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS I WAS A LOYAL COUNTY AND SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE BUT IN THE END, THE COUNTY DIDN’T THINK TWICE ON HOW THEIR DECISION WOULD AFFECT MY LIFE AND THE OTHER SERGEANTS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TEST FOR THE PROMOTION.

MICHAEL SOFRANEK

REBBUTAL TO COMMENTS BY ANONYMOUS

ON AUGUST 6, 2006, I POSTED SOME COMMENTS ENTITLED JAIL SAFETY TOPIC. A ANONYMOUS PERSON MADE SOME COMMENTS OF THEIR OWN ON THIS SUBJECT. (PLEASE READ THEIR COMMENTS BEFORE READING THE REST OF THIS.)

ANONYMOUS MAKES STATEMENTS THAT I RECEIVED SPECIAL TREATMENT CONCERNING AN INCIDENT I WAS INVOLVED IN CONCERNING USING TO MUCH FORCE ON AN INMATE.

BELOW ARE FACTS CONCERNING THE INCIDENT.

I WAS TOLD BY STRENGTH THAT THE COUNTY WANTED TO FIRE ME OVER THIS INCIDENT BUT HE WAS WILLING TO PLEA BARGAIN WITH ME IF I WOULD TAKE A 30 DAY SUSPENSION WITHOUT PAY.
BEING A COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR MANY YEARS I KNEW THE TRICKS ADMINISTRATIONS TRIES TO PULL WHEN TRYING TO DISCIPLINE A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

ADMINISTRATIONS M.O. IS TO MAKE YOU GRATEFUL TO THEM THAT YOU WEREN’T FIRED AND ONLY RECEIVED A 30 DAY SUSPENSION.

I DECIDED TO FIGHT THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST ME.
FIRST I WASN’T GUILTY AND SECOND, NO ONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT EVER RECEIVED A 30 DAY SUSPENSION THAT I COULD RECALL.

I REQUESTED COPIES OF ALL STATEMENTS MADE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION ON THIS INCIDENT. BOTH MY WIFE AND MYSELF RIGHT AWAY STARTED FINDING VERY BIG DIFFERENCES IN STATEMENTS MADE BY THE INMATE, CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS AND OTHER WITNESSES.
MYSELF AND MY UNION REPRESENTATIVE BROUGHT THESE DIFFERENCES TO THE ATTENTION OF STRENGTH. HE THEN HAD THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATOR INTERVIEW SOME OF THE INDIVIDUALS AGAIN.

THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST ME WAS DROPPED FOR MANY REASONS BUT BEING STRENGTHS GOOD OLD BOY CERTAINLY WASN’T ONE OF THE REASONS.

I WENT FROM BEING FIRED, TO THE WHOLE INCIDENT BEING DISMISSED AND IT WASN’T BECAUSE OF SOME TECHNICALITY. I DIDN'T DO WHAT I WAS ACCUSED OF AND I PROVED IT.

F.Y.I.
STRENGTH AND I ARE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS, I THINK I HAVE SEEN HIM THREE TIMES SINCE HE RETIRED. ONCE AT THE CREDIT UNION, ONCE AT A RETIREMENT PARTY AND AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

ANONYMOUS ALSO MAKES REMARKS ABOUT HOW HAPPY MOST OF THE OFFICERS ARE WITH PAZINS ADMINISTRATION AND THAT I SHOULD JUST FADE INTO THE NIGHT.
IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. LETS TALK ABOUT PAZINS ADMINISTRATION A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT HAS PAZIN DONE FOR CORRECTIONS.

SOME WILL SAY HE GOT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT BACK IN THE SAME TYPE OF UNIFORM, WHEN CORRECTIONS WAS WEARING BLACK. HE DID THAT FOR HIMSELF, IT MAKES HIS ARMY LOOK BIGGER TO THE PUBLIC.

SOME WILL SAY HE GOT CORRECTIONS NEW RADIOS. I BELIEVE IT WAS A RELATIVE OF PAZINS THAT MADE A NICE PROFIT SELLING US THE RADIOS. DOESN’T COUNTY POLICY SAY THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT TO BID.


LETS SPEND A SECOND ON MY LAWSUIT AGAINST PAZIN AND

THE COUNTY OVER THE PROMOTION OF THORESON.
DID ANY OF YOU KNOW THAT PAZIN WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED IN THE LAWSUIT LEESA THORESON FILED. PAZINS NAME WAS DROPPED FROM THE SUIT JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS SETTLED AND THEN ODDLY ENOUGH IN JUST A FEW WEEKS AGAIN, RICCI THORESON IS PROMOTED TO COMMANDER.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COURT DOCUMENTS TO BACK UP MY CLAIM, CONTACT ME.

I AM SURE ROGER LONGO IS A BIG FAN OF PAZIN ADMINISTRATION. FOR YOU WHO ARE NOT IN THE SHERIFFS CORRECTIONS DIVISION, LONGO IS A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WHO WAS GIVEN A DOG THAT WAS TO BE MAINLY USED IN CORRECTIONS FOR DRUG DETECTION IN THE JAIL FACILITIES.
OFFICER LONGO HAD THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS DOG THAT A HANDLER NEEDS TO HAVE SO THE DOG IS EFFECTIVE. LONGO SPENT MANY HOURS ON HIS OWN TRAINING THE DOG AND EVEN PUT OUT HIS OWN MONEY TO MAKE A HOME FOR THE DOG.

THE DOG WAS TAKEN FROM LONGO BECAUSE ADMINISTRATIONS CLAIMS LONGO WAS NOT USING THE DOG TO ITS BEST POTENTIAL. MANY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WILL TELL YOU A DIFFERENT STORY.

THE DOG WAS THEN GIVEN TO A PATROL DEPUTY. THE DOG WAS BOUGHT WITH MONEY FROM THE INMATE WELFARE FUND FOR CORRECTIONS. IF LONGO WASN’T DOING THE JOB THEN WHY WASN’T ANOTHER CORRECTIONAL OFFICER GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN WITH THE DOG??

HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF PAZIN AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH CORRECTIONS.

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, INMATES IN A DORM AT SANDY MUSH BARRICADED THEMSELVES IN THE DORM ON MIDNIGHT SHIFT. CONCUSSION AND STING BALL GRENADES HAD TO BE USED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE DORM.
THIS WAS A MAJOR INCIDENT AT THIS JAIL FACILITY. NO ONE FROM ADMINISTRATION SHOWED UP, NOT THE FACILITY COMMANDER, THE UNDERSHERIFF OR THE SHERIFF.
NOW IF THE NEWS MEDIA WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT THEN YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN PAZINS FACE LIKE YOU DO WHEN THERE IS A SWAT CALL OUT, A BIG DRUG BUST OR SOME OTHER MAJOR INCIDENT ON THE PATROL SIDE.

THE GRAND JURY A FEW YEARS AGO SUGGESTED THAT THE SHERIFF HAVE MORE CONTACT WITH THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION AND ITS OFFICERS. ASK THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IF THIS IS HAPPENING.

ANONYMOUS ALSO COMMENTED THAT UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION THE DEPARTMENT IS ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY, THUS GETTING AWAY FROM THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM. ONE WORD TELLS YOU THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM IS STILL ALIVE AND VERY WELL IN PAZINS ADMINISTRATION.

STEROIDS

DO YOU REMEMBER UNDER PAZINS ADMINISTRATION THAT SEVERAL PATROL DEPUTIES ADMITTED TO USING STEROIDS AND SINCE THEY CAME FORWARD AND ADMITTED THIS TO ADMINISTRATION THEY ONLY RECEIVED SOME KIND OF DEPARTMENTAL DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.

TO USE STEROIDS DON’T YOU NEED TO BE IN POSSESSION OF THEM BUT POSSESSION OF THEM IS AGAINST THE LAW, SO HOW COME NO ONE WAS ARRESTED AND PROSECUTED.

OH YEA, NOW I REMEMBER. THERE WAS A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT ONE OF THE OFFENDING DEPUTIES HAD A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE IN THE DEPARTMENT. THIS WAS A PROUD MOMENT FOR ALL SHERIFF DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

COUPLE OF ENDING REMARKS.

YOU ONLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE BLOG STARTED BY SGT.GRIFFITH TO SEE THAT TO MOST OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS THE ONLY PRIDE THEY HAVE IS IN THE JOB THEY DO THEMSELVES.

ANONYMOUS, I HOPE IN THE FUTURE YOU COME CLEAN WITH YOUR IDENTITY. YOU ARE PROBABLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE I HAD RESPECT FOR A FEW YEARS AGO BUT NOW YOU HAVE BEEN SUCKED INTO THE DARK SIDE.

NOT REVEALING YOUR TRUE IDENTITY MAKES IT HARD FOR ANYONE TO REALLY TAKE YOUR COMMENTS SERIOUSLY. WE BOTH KNOW BY REVEALING YOUR IDENTITY YOU WOULD ALSO BE REVEALING YOUR OWN PERSONAL TRAITS AND I DON’T THINK YOU WANT TO GIVE ANYONE THE CHANCE TO COMMENT ON THOSE.


MICHAEL SOFRANEK

JAIL SAFETY TOPIC AGAIN

A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE SUN STAR POINTING OUT AGAIN THE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THE MERCED COUNTY CORRECTIONS DIVISIONS.
LINK TO SUN STAR VIEW

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/opinion/story/12538090p-13251109c.html

INMATE OVERCROWDING AND UNDER STAFFED CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE SHERIFF AND THE BOARD OF STUPIDVISORS NEED TO HEAR THERE IS A VERY BIG PROBLEM IN THE COUNTY JAILS.

THE GRAND JURY HAS BEEN TELLING THEM FOR YEARS ( I TOLD YOU IN ANOTHER POST I MADE, THAT NO ONE TAKES THE GRAND JURY SERIOUSLY. THIS JUST PROVES IT.) THE BOARD OF CORRECTIONS IN TWO DIFFERENT REPORTS HAVE COMMENTED ON THE STAFFING LEVELS.

THERE ARE SHERIFFS IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAVE CLOSED PARTS OF THEIR JAILS OR HAVE EVEN REFUSED TO OPEN BRAND NEW JAILS BECAUSE THEY LACKED THE STAFF TO RUN THESE FACILITIES SECURELY AND SAFELY
.
PAZIN COULD DO THE SAME THING IF HE HAD A PAIR. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CITIZENS OF MERCED COUNT WOULD DO, IF THE SHERIFF SAID " IN TWO WEEKS I WILL BE FORCED TO RELEASE 200 INMATES FROM CUSTODY BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE THE OFFICERS TO STAFF OUR JAILS SAFELY."

THIS SURE WOULD GET THE ATTENTION OF THE BOARD OF STUPIDVISORS.

THE OTHER THING THAT AMAZES ME IS, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS HAVE A UNION (MANY OFFICERS HAVE LEFT THIS UNION AND GONE TO ANOTHER ONE, SO THIS TELLS YOU HOW GOOD THE CORRECTIONS UNION IS) THE OFFICERS WHO RUN THIS UNION ARE THE SAME ONES WHO ARE IN HARMS WAY IF THINGS GET UGLY. YOU WOULD THINK FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY THEY WOULD BE YELLING AND SCREAMING. I CAN TELL YOU WHY THE UNION ISN’T BEING MORE VOCAL, SOME OF THE UNION LEADERS ARE PLAYING POLITICS AND DON’T WANT TO STIR UP THE SHERIFF.

TO THOSE WHO ARE STILL IN THE CORRECTIONS UNION, TELL YOUR LEADERS YOUR CONCERNS AND DEMAND THE UNION TAKE A STRONG STAND ON STAFFING. IF THEY DON’T, GET OUT OF THE UNION, WHAT GOOD IS IT. ITS YOUR SAFETY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

SUN STAR STORY COMMENTS AT PAZINS STAFF MEETING

YESTERDAY THE SUN STAR HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT SOME STATEMENTS PAZIN MADE DURING A STAFF MEETING WITH HIS SERGEANTS AT THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE MEETING PAZIN HAD MADE A STATEMENT THAT HE WAS THINKING OF SELLING HIS INTEREST IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY THAT BOUGHT RICHARD BYRDS PROPERTY WHILE HE WAS IN JAIL.

WHAT REALLY SURPRISED ME WAS THAT TWO SERGEANTS WHO WERE AT THE MEETING MADE ANONYMOUS STATEMENTS TO THE SUN STAR REPORTER ABOUT WHAT WAS SAID AT THE MEETING.

YOU TWO KNOW AT THE NEXT MEETING EVERYONE WILL BE READ THE RIOT ACT FOR THE COMMENTS YOU GAVE THE PRESS. WHAT’S SAID AT THE STAFF MEETINGS STAYS AT THE STAFF MEETINGS.

NOW IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN LEAVE ANONYMOUS COMMENTS AT THIS BLOG. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK UP SINCE YOU TALKED TO THE PRESS ALREADY. IT’S A START.

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT

SOMEONE LEFT SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THE POST I LEFT CONCERNING THE LAND DEAL THAT SPENCER AND PAZIN WAS INVOLVED IN.

IF YOU READ THEIR COMMENTS YOU WILL SEE THIS IS A COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT KNOWS SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLY ON THE SAME LEVEL AS THE SPENCER INCIDENT WITH THE SUV. GRANT MONEY BEING USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES OTHER THAN WHAT IT WAS AWARDED FOR.

AGAIN THERE ARE MANY COUNTY EMPLOYEES OUT THERE WHO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WRONG DOINGS BEING COMMITTED EVERY DAY BY THOSE IN POWER WITHIN MERCED COUNTY.

PUT WHAT YOU KNOW AS A POST IN THIS BLOG AND LETS EXPOSE THESE WRONGS.

IF YOU ARE READING THE SUN STAR YOU CAN SEE THAT MANY INCIDENTS ARE BEING MADE PUBLIC. THIS INFORMATION IS COMING FROM PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.