Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Smith Unit whistle Blower quits after agency harassment

By Tonya Peters, Backgate Website

The employee who faced TV cameras during an on air TV news interview  just over a month ago regarding dangerous staffing issues and the way the TDCJ was handling those issues resigned recently after what she claims to nothing short of harassment and retaliation for speaking out. The female employee of the Smith Unit in Lamesa went on air, faced blacked out, and discussed how the staffing shortages on the Smith unit were placing staff and offenders alike in potentially life threatening positions on a daily basis.

The Backgate has since posted a story that verified that the Smith unit is in fact grossly under staffed and has spend millions in overtime costs for staff members that have been mandated to work on days off, and extended hours.

TDJ initially held up are request, but after a ruling by the Attorney General's Office, we received the information that verified that the Smith Unit is in fact dangerously understaffed. We will be interviewing the whistle blower next week and have requested assistance from state Legislators in assisting with this issue. Stay tuned.

3 comments:

  1. From the Desk of BoBoTheBeaten:

    And they said Retaliation didn't work. Is any particular senator going to get to the bottom of this?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Why should they. they have the hands in it and have done nothing but bad news for correctional officers. Don't everyone know monkeys can run the units. Thats what gov.perry said. Remember. I for one am tired of crooked tdcj corp officials. They love slamming C.O.s but what about the crooks at the top. Including our state reps. Take a look in the mirrows corporation you know who you are. It will come out in the open in time. Allways does.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The truth of the matter is that Smith Unit has been critically short for a long, long time. That has always been public knowledge. So, the label "whistleblower" isn't accurate or appropriate. Therefore, no need for harassment or retaliation. Everyone acts like this is all some big conspiracy. It's not. We're short. We need more money. Period.

    ReplyDelete