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TMCNet: Sheriff Clarke, guards are at odds over staffing change

[January 07, 2009]

Sheriff Clarke, guards are at odds over staffing change

(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 7--A new policy by Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. limiting overtime at the House of Correction in Franklin is endangering guards and inmates, according to a union official.

Clarke defends the move and dismisses the guards' complaint as "whining."

The change, ordered last week, calls for correctional officers with the rank of sergeant to fill in for lower-ranking officers who call in sick or otherwise miss work. Clarke's move was aimed at curbing skyrocketing overtime costs but has left some areas of the sprawling Franklin lockup understaffed, said Kevin Schoofs, president of Local 567, the correctional officers union.

"I understand he's being budget-conscious, but priority No. 1 has got to be safety and security," Schoofs said. During one shift last weekend, only one sergeant instead of the usual four was on duty to supervise 30 dorms at the House, Schoofs said. That could have been a dicey situation if an inmate disturbance had erupted, he said.

Clarke dismissed the concerns and said he's beginning to implement changes he telegraphed weeks ago when the County Board agreed to consolidate management of the House of Correction and the county's work-release center under Clarke starting Jan. 1. The sheriff in the past oversaw the county jail but not the House.

Clarke said he decided to use the sergeants as backup for guards after an initial review of the House of Correction operation. Sergeants have a different job classification and their main duties include supervision, booking inmates and training.

Schoofs said the union contract did not allow interchanging sergeants for lower level correctional officers, unless the only alternative was forced overtime.

The sheriff said he didn't care what the job duties were on paper and that he wants to use the available staff more effectively and avoid the big overtime costs that have plagued the House of Correction. Overtime costs for 2008 were expected to exceed $4.3 million, despite the hiring of dozens of new correctional officers.

"I've made it very clear we are going to operate more efficiently at the House of Correction," Clarke said. "The money wasted over there in the past has been profound."

Schoofs said the union will file formal grievances on Clarke's staff moves.

When told the officers' union was complaining about the staff shuffling, Clarke said: "Tell whoever is bellyaching to stop their whining. If they don't like the change, they can find some work somewhere else in the weak economy."

Correctional officers must "do what I need done," regardless of their formal job descriptions, Clarke said. The House employs 314 guards with the title correctional officer 1 and 28 sergeants with the title of correctional officer 2.

A no-overtime directive was verbally given to the officers last week, Schoofs said. Clarke said he's trying to dramatically reduce overtime but has not formally ordered an end to it.

The correctional officers last year bitterly complained about forced overtime caused by staff shortages, Clarke said. His changes are aimed in part at avoiding forced overtime and ensuring that officers get at least one day a week off, he said.

To see more of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.jsonline.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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