Sheriff outlines new safety procedures at jail
Presque Isle County sheriff Terry Flewelling went before members of the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners to outline the new safety procedures that have been implemented in the county jail since an inmate attempted to hang himself in December 2002. Flewelling admitted that there were mistakes made and some procedures were not handled properly, but “we’re not accepting all of the blame.” The incident in the jail led to a lawsuit being filed against the county, the sheriff, and sheriff’s department staff.
The lawsuit filed by the family of Nathan Dewey of Rogers City, who suffered a serious brain injury, sought $6.5 million. During a negotiation session in December between attorneys from both sides, the plaintiffs agreed to accept $2 million, which is the insurance policy limit. The county also agreed to implement a liaison officer in the jail to prevent any more such incidents.
FLEWELLING, WHO was asked to submit a report at the January 12 county board meeting, discussed some of the changes. The sheriff told the commissioners color cameras have been installed in the hallways, cells, and in the area where the incident took place. Flewelling said corrections officers and dispatchers will be able to keep a better eye on what is going on in the jail with the color cameras because the images will be clearer. They also will be videotaped.
“We never had that capability before,” said Flewelling. Monitors are located at the dispatch console and at the desk of the corrections officers in the jail. Chairman Allan Bruder said the two sets of monitors make it a safer situation in case one staff member has to step away from his or her work area for five minutes. The sheriff’s department also has purchased two insulated “suicide suits,” the sheriff said.
“THEY (SUICIDE SUITS) CANNOT be ripped or torn and made into a noose, to attempt to do this again,” said Flewelling. If someone is suicidal jail staff will take his or her clothes and place the subject in the suit. The suicidal inmate also would be given a mattress made of the same material. Other steps taken include jail staff attending suicide prevention training classes, which the sheriff said weren’t available before.
If similar circumstances occurred and a suicidal inmate is transported to Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health Services (NMCMH) for an evaluation and sent back, Flewelling was vehement about what he would do next time.
“We’re going to go up to the probate judge and get (prosecutor) Don (McLennan), and we’re going to petition that person back into mental health where they belong,” said Flewelling. “We don’t have the facilities to watch them. They may go back down to mental health and the doctor evaluates him and says ‘no, we’re going to send him back to you,’ but at least we tried. It’s another protection for us.” In regard to Dewey being sent back to the jail by NMCMH, Bruder defended the actions of the sheriff and his staff. “On your behalf, Terry, from what I saw, I think by say
COMMISSIONER STEVEN LANG suggested getting together with NMCMH to discuss how things will be handled in the future. Commissioner Mike Darga said another safety situation is that the jail is bursting at seams. The facility can house 23, but is routinely above that. As of Wednesday evening, undersheriff Bob Paschke said there were 28 people locked up. Darga said an expansion may have to be considered. Flewelling also answered to the issue of a liaison officer and said the jail administrator will handle the duties.
“Basically, he was doing that,” said Flewelling. “Now it is just official.” Commissioner Bob Schell commended Flewelling for his cooperation in addressing the issue.