Monday, Johnson expressed concern over the safety of corrections officers if the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) shuts down several towers at SOCF.
Edwin Voorhies, South Regional Director for the ODRC sent an e-mail Feb. 14 to all wardens at state prisons saying ODRC Director Gary Mohr was considering closing all but two towers at SOCF, drawing a response from members of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association at the prison.
“You’ve got three schools within a half-mile radius here,” said Randy Hiles, president of OCSEA Local 7330. “We have an obligation to the community to make sure these inmates never reach the other side of these perimeter fences.”
Although concerns have already been raised for the safety of nearby communities, Johnson also said the safety of the corrections officers also has to be considered.
“The people guarding the prison are my friends and neighbors,” Johnson said. “Their welfare and that of their families are my highest priority. The public owes them an enormous debt of gratitude for the difficult job they do so well. This potential tower closure presents a grave concern for me. If keeping those towers open will help ensure a single time that one guard gets home safely to his or her family when they might otherwise have been harmed then I am for keeping the towers open.”
Although the ODRC says no final decisions have been made, Johnson said he will ensure that his opinion in the matter is known.
“I plan to send a letter to the director of ODRC and, if necessary, Gov. Kasich himself,” Johnson said. “We cannot afford to put lives in jeopardy.”
Johnson said he feels the delayed response time caused by closing the towers, which is said could be possibly 20 minutes, for officers to be relieved of their posts, get outside to weapons in the arsenal and then to go to the recreation yard, is excessive.
Johnson said he considers the towers at SOCF as, “the last line of defense,” if a major disturbance would occur, and adds that he knows too well the cost when the administration loses control of part of the facility.
“I was here in 1993 with the (Ohio) National Guard and saw the disastrous consequences of a full-scale riot firsthand,” Johnson said. “That was a terrible time and lives were lost. We need to ensure that never happens again.”
Johnson said his initial opinion formed during the riot was reinforced by the eight years he dealt with the prison as Scioto County coroner.
“To me, these guards are in uniform defending our country much like a soldier fighting overseas,” Johnson said. “We owe them the best protection possible. This is not about management; this is not about labor; it is purely about keeping guards safe and in control of the inmates.”
Johnson said he welcomes an opportunity to visit SOCF and give the administration a chance to demonstrate that the facility is secure and the corrections officers are fully-resourced to to their jobs safely.
Cause he's a coroner at the prison, he now knows all about Criminal justice. Did he take Criminal Justice courses in Med School?
He's doing more harm than good, and that's called corrupt, making good bad. He should fire all the professional prison officials in Ohio, for he know better than all of them, wow.
Now he's got all the inmates at SOCF as Terrorist or foreign enemies just to make his flimsy points to get press and to impress us he's doing something, though it's misguided, etc.
1st, understand why this facility came here. Simply put, it was just a government bailout for the banking industry, simuliar to the 2008 big bank deal only singular in nature.
After studying the original plan that had some flaws, it was relocated to adjoining property. A MAXIUM security facility. Remember that term cause it's very important.
Now, admit times have changed since "Ol Red-the 4 legged tracking machine" was used but also come to realize these inmates are opertunist. So we have obligations to keep this all in check.
Back to that term "MAXIUM." That implies to me and most others in this area that every possible alternative be utillized. Towers are a possible need and if not used the MAXIUM promise given to the local will be violated.
I suggest monies be saved or employed elsewhere. Maybe cut the governor and staff's expenses? Turn off some street lights? Maybe cease the farm division? Sign it into the CREP program, suck in some Obama, goose, deer, quail hunter change and get on the receiving end. Raise some road kill, possibly collect payments from insurance companies for vehicle damage. Surely some talented political idealist can get better suited laws on record? No comprende???
PS; I ain't in narry a union neither!!!
Mr johnson, and the PDT, should be objective and inform citizens the pro-side of shutting down the towers with 2011 technology in place.
Mr Johnson, being from Scioto County, it appears you had to break ranks and "appear" to be in favor of public employee unions keeping all their existing collecting bargaining perks. Surely you know the state is between a rock and a hard place. And, the "collective will" of the voters put in the current representatives to make these tough changes.
So... your first real poltical positioning is noted.