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.