Lucasville may close 6 towers at prison

[BOPCO87]

Lucasville may close 6 towers at prison
State says budget cut won't affect safety; guards' union objects

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:03 AM
By Alan Johnson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Lucasville may close 6 towers at prison

It's been 16 years since the deadly riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, but many area residents still see the prison guard towers as symbolic protection against the inmates behind the razor-wire fences.

Now, the state wants to leave six of the eight towers vacant as a money-saving measure.

Warden Phillip Kearns said the towers, for the most part, are no longer needed because of double security fences and a state-of-the-art electronic warning system.

"I think the towers give a false sense of security to the community," Kearns said. "Since the riot this place was totally redesigned."

But the union representing corrections officers and other prison employees is up in arms about abandoning the towers, arguing it is the "last line of defense between the inmates and the community."

Officers in the towers, who are among the few in the prison who are armed, have a shotgun and semi-automatic rifle.

"The inmates know there's weapons in those towers and that alone could be a deterrent," said Gary Shepherd, president of Local 7330 of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, the union representing corrections officers and other prison employees.

Shepherd said the union plans to fight the decision and will meet again today with prison officials. The union has submitted counterproposals that don't involve leaving the towers unmanned.

The action results from a decision by Terry Collins, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to eliminate 175 "posts" in prisons statewide because of state budget reductions. The order does not mean that 175 jobs will be lost, only that 175 spots where officers are assigned will be eliminated.

Thus, 18 corrections officers who staffed the six towers around-the-clock seven days a week will be reassigned to work inside the prison. Kearns said that could save a significant amount of overtime, a multimillion-dollar annual expense for the prisons agency.

"The towers served a purpose when the prison opened in 1973 when there was just one fence," Kearns said. But the addition of a second fence, "ankle-breaker" rocks between the fences, and a high-tech alarm system rendered most of the towers unnecessary, he said.

Kearns said he plans to add another armed vehicle to one that now patrols the prison perimeter.

"Our job is to keep the community safe and do the best job we can to be frugal doing it. Actually, I think this will enhance security."

Union leaders made their case to the Valley Local School District last week at a board meeting. A high school, middle school and elementary school are across the road from the prison.

Valley Local Superintendent Eugene Thomas said he is aware of the situation but did not have all the information and had no comment. No board members commented.

None of the state's newer prisons, including the Ohio State Penitentiary (the "supermax") in Youngstown, has guard towers.

[shakedownshorti]

Typical of unfortunately what they are all doing! Sorry to hear it!

[Iowa #1603]

Yea,
10 yrs. ago we put in a 1,000,000 fence system. The director was going to cut 3 towers at my place.

The fence works half the time, but never worth a crap during a rain or snow storm. One section has been down for the last year , and the other night the rest of the fence wouldn't clear from trouble mode.

All of our towers are still manned 16 hrs a day

They are NOW talking about another type of electronic fence......................................

[DeadManWalking]

Our CO's in towers stand ready at any inmate mass movement in the max. I personally believe that strategically placed towers are a good investment for the safety and security of the general public, the staff, and the inmates.

The article is a little misleading. Of course the Super Max doesn't have towers.

[BOPCO87]

Originally Posted by DeadManWalking

The article is a little misleading. Of course the Super Max doesn't have towers.

Not misleading at all, Ohio's Super Max facility really doesn't have any towers.

[DeadManWalking]

Originally Posted by BOPCO87

Not misleading at all, Ohio's Super Max facility really doesn't have any towers.

I just meant that a Super Max has less need for towers, which is why it doesn't have any.