Allegations Abound

According to documents recently released by Volusia County government (see below - right column of this page) - county officials intend to terminate the employment of their jail director (corrections director) Mark Flowers.

The released documents - along with some of the below linked media reporting (see below links) allege that Director Flowers' employment is being terminated due to gross official misconduct. (including allegations of violating jail inmates' U.S. Constitutional Rights)

While at the very same time - Director Flowers is seeking "whistler blower" protections (click here to read Flower's allegations)- stating that any acts of official misconduct were not facilitated by him - rather he alleges that his subordinate staff committed these flagrant improprieties.

Probably worst yet - Flowers further alleges that senior county officials (including County Manager George Recktenwald) were duly informed of his concerns (staff improprieties) - and that county officials failed to take appropriate corrective actions.

RELATED ARTICLES
WESH 2 News
December 9, 2022
Volusia County corrections director to be fired, officials say

ClickOrlando.Com
December 9, 2022
Corrections Director Mark Flowers accused of
mistreating employees, inmates

Daytona Beach News-Journal
December 9, 2022
Volusia corrections director who blew whistle
on inmate abuse to be fired



When The Arsonist Dials 911

Like with many institutions - especially those that relate to law enforcement - the Volusia County Division of Corrections (VCDC) has had it's fair share of "problems" - including rogue staff members (two of several available examples provided below).

RELATED ARTICLES
Fox35
December 12, 2018
Volusia County correctional officer arrested
after sexual encounter with inmate

VolusiaExposed.Com
August 4, 2014
Volusia County Correctional Officer Chris Richardson
Terminated For Falsifying Jail Records



Given this publication's (VolusiaExposed.Com) insider knowledge of several members of the VCDC senior management - we tend to suspect that Director Flowers is an example of an arsonist - that will dial 911 on his own dumpster fires.

One of our (VolusiaExposed.Com) members is a retired mid-level VCDC manager - who has validated the professionalism of the VCDC staff members that voiced their concerns regarding Director Flowers.

Therefore - this publication has concluded that the complaints filed against Director Flowers are credible - and should be taken seriously.

Eight years ago - this publication - within our October 24, 2014 article - expressed some concerns regarding Volusia County's decision to hire Flowers as their assistant corrections director. (see 2014 article for particulars)

THEREFORE - it is the OPINION of this publication - that given Director Flowers's past history with other correctional agencies - AND given the current allegations from credible VCDC staff - the county's intent to terminate Flowers' employment is certainly justified and long overdue.



Karma Is A Bitch !

In fact - we would argue that Flowers' termination is far better justified - then was Flowers' 2016 justification in terminating the employment of Correctional Officer Richard Kerns. (see our below December 2016 article regarding Officer Kerns).

In 2016 Flowers was effectively deaf to Officer Kerns' concerns that he was being unfairly treated (disparate treatment). Now - within Flowers' 2022 complaint - he alleges that he has been victimized by similar unfair treatment. Well, Mr. Flowers - Karma - is most certainly a bitch !

RELATED ARTICLE

VolusiaExposed.Com
December 27, 2016
The Termination Of Officer Richard Kerns





In Fairness To Mr. Flowers?

Within Director Flower's August 12, 2022 complaint memorandum - he alleges that county administration has been ignoring his concerns regarding incidents of misconduct by VCDC staff members.

This publication MAY HAVE uncovered an example - that supports Flowers' allegation.

As was documented within our December 13, 2016 article - this publication expressed concerns that VCDC had apparently failed to investigate allegations that a VCDC sergeant had - and was - having engagements with local prostitutes.

An October 19, 2016 memorandum from then "Acting Director Flowers" issued his instructions that an internal investigation be opened on the subject sergeant.

Within a December 7, 2016 email response to our public record request for a copy of the written findings of this internal investigation - Captain David Vanis (internal affairs investigator) advised us that no internal investigation had been conducted regarding the allegations against the subject sergeant.

So why wasn't an investigation conducted (as required by Florida law)? Well.... maybe - Flowers has a valid argument - and county officials were not investigating his concerns regarding officer misconduct - OR maybe "Five-Minute Mark" * changed his mind about having the allegations investigated.

* - "Five-Minute Mark" was a term used by
VCDC correctional staff, when referring to Director Flowers' tendency to change his mind every five minutes.
(CLICK HERE
- see Page 8 - Paragraph 8 of the Human Resources Investigative Report)

RELATED ARTICLE

VolusiaExposed.Com
December 13, 2016
Volusia Jail FAILS To Open An Internal Affairs Investigation





THE UNSPOKEN TRUTH
The Failure Of Florida Model Jail Standards

Within the attached investigative reports - there are several references to Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS). FMJS is the current jail oversight system adopted on October 1, 1996 - when the Florida Legislature repealed the former oversight system - that was commonly referred to as "33-8" (Florida Administrative Code 33-8).

Under FAC 33-8 - the State would regularly inspect jails for compliance with state and federal mandates. Jail inmates (and more importantly jail staff) could reach out to state jail inspectors and file complaints - that were actually investigated.

The current FMJS jail inspection system is merely a "paper tiger" to the former 33-8 system.

Many years back - this publication published a white paper titled - Jail Oversight in Retrograde - The Pendulum Swings Right - which detailed the ineffectiveness of the FMJS oversight procedures. We invite you to read this paper - along with the below linked media articles - in order that you may gain a full appreciation - that Florida lacks a truly accountable jail inspection / over-sight process.

We (VolusiaExposed.Com) would argue - that had Flowers' transgressions occurred under the mandates of FAC 33-8 - jail staff could have reported their concerns directly to the state prison inspector - resulting in a quick disposition of the misconduct.

RELATED ARTICLES

ABCactionnews.Com
March 26, 2021
Should county jails be allowed opt-out of physical inspections?

OrlandoSentinel.Com
May 18, 2010
Beef up jail oversight



Kudos To The Union

Based upon our (VolusiaExposed.Com) review of the attached investigative documents - one particular important fact stands out. The correctional officers' union - the International Union of Police Association (IUPA) played a very important role in exposing Director Flowers' misconduct. Not only did the IUPA provide the officers with representation - the county itself noted within the Human Resources investigative report (see page 2 - paragraph 4) - that it was the Union's attorney that provided them with a contradictive memorandum authored by Flowers regarding the Inmate Caruthers investigation.

Being A Union Representative
It's A Hard Knock Life

It is not uncommon for union representatives to hear some officers stating that they don't need a union - because they never do anything wrong - therefore they will never need union representation. This Flowers situation makes one thing very clear - sometimes you need union representation - and not because you have done something wrong - you need it - because you have been wronged.

From our perspective - VCDC staff - VCDC inmates - county administration - and the public in general were all well served by IUPA.

Moving Forward

Soon - county administrators must decide if they will go forward with the termination of Corrections Director Flowers. This publication supports his termination - regardless whether Flowers committed the alleged acts of misconduct. The mere fact that his senior staff has lost faith in his ability to lead - is more than enough cause to terminate his employment.

The high rate of inmate suicides - and of jail staff turn-over at VCDC are two additional dagger thrusts into the body of Flowers' correctional career.

Hopefully - county administrators will move forward with Flowers' termination - and seek his replacement from internal resources - that already have the knowledge and ethics to do the job correctly - as well as having earned the respect of the rank and file of the VCDC.

...stand by to stand by ....there is surely more to come of this......


Something To Believe In ~ Poison