A Reader's comment on the possible culture of falsification of reports within the Volusia County Jail
Updated Jan 3 2011
"Vi Veri Vniversum Vivus Vici" By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe"- Latin proverb
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Reader Comment - January 2, 2011 VolusiaExposed.Com received the following email comment from a possible current or past county employee As per the reader's request his / her name and identifying information has been redacted
After years of working for Volusia County Corrections, I can attest to the fact
that reports are written with great collaboration.
I know that I have written reports on incidents only to have them "kicked back" because the county wants
to avoid lawsuits. My original reports stated the "truth" in the who, what,
where, how. However, each time the reports were kicked back it was because it
is not what I "should have" written. I was told many times to collaborate with
others who witnessed the same incident and to write what they wrote in order to
keep it "consistent,safe and free from lawsuits".
It makes me sick that this goes on because the public honestly has no idea of the corruption that goes on
behind closed gates.
The jail does not want "honest" officers. They want officers who will submit to their authority no matter what the cost. The worst
part is that the county would never think of backing an honest officer. The
honest officers have no place in the Volusia County Jail. I know...I worked
there. What I found was that as long as I kept to myself and did not question
the ill practices of some supervisors I was safe and my job was not threatened.
It is when I started speaking out, certain supervisors made my life a living
hell. I know that the VCDC 52's are constantly falsified. I don't blame the
officers. I blame the administration because the jail is always short-staffed.
If we were allowed to do everything that was expected of us it would take 4-5
officers to staff North Wing and South Wing. The night shift is worse off.
Usually, there is only one officer to staff a unit. Not only is that dangerous,
it is unforgivable. I have seen Capts, Lts, Sgts log themselves on the units as
"doing rounds". Most never did rounds. They only logged that they did.
'
God forbid if we were to go against a supervisor. No,the administration forever
closes their eyes to the falsifying of legal documents knowing full well what
is going on. However, don't ever ask a supervisor because they would deny it to
their grave. There are some good and honest supervisors but they are few and
far between. Volusia County Corrections, like many law enforcement agencies,
feel a sense of entitlement and they always have since my employment. It is the
sad truth and thank God for this website.
I understand not everyone who should
be held accountable will be held accountable. This is a great flaw in the legal
system. If the public only knew what goes on behind these gates, in the report
writing process, the falsifying of documents, etc..many supervisors and
officers would be out of a job, as it should be. My heart goes out to the great
officers who sincerely try to do the right thing only to be told they can't do
the right thing because of staffing issues. This should never be an excuse and
"officer safety" should always be a priority. This is what the administration
preaches, however, only when it is convenient for the situation-at-hand. I am
ashamed to have been a part of the practices that go on in that jail. Ashamed
to the point where I could not live day to day knowing that I was not allowed
to do the right thing. This becomes the "stress" for the officers, not the
inmates. It is the administration and their, forever, poor practices. Today, I
choose to be a non-favorite. It is easier to sleep at night knowing I did the
right thing legally and morally.
Thank you for letting me have the opportunity to write this. Thank you for
exposing the corruption in law enforcement. You may use my words for your
website but please do not use my name or email address for fear of retaliation.