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September 1, 2010

Eight more prison employees positive for drugs, deny usage

By Christina M. Wright The Herald Bulletin

PENDLETON, Ind. — An additional eight Pendleton Correctional Facility employees were added Wednesday to a list for further drug analysis in a facility-wide shakedown, according to a prison spokesman.

“They are still working; there could be a legitimate explanation,” said Doug Garrison, a spokesman for the Department of Correction.

The eight employees were tested as part of a week-long “shakedown” of the Pendleton facility that has focused on staff, Garrison said.

He said the facility typically locks down the prison to do a thorough search of cells, but a probe of the staff was added when positive drug screenings for inmates had increased about 10 percent.

“It’s fair to say that this level of scrutiny is unprecedented, and it may be implemented in other facilities,” Garrison said.

So far, 12 staff members — including eight corrections officers and one medical staff member — admitted to drug usage, foregoing the drug screening, Garrison said. One corrections officer was suspended for suspected trafficking of pornographic magazines and a cell phone.

Unlike the employees who are awaiting a full drug screening, these 12 staff members have been suspended and face termination.

The eight employees who tested positive Wednesday have been added to 38 others from earlier in the week who denied any illegal drug use, Garrison said.

Garrison said visitation is canceled until the probe is completed. The prison has been on lockdown for two weeks.

Contact Christina M. Wright, 640-4883, christina.wright@heraldbulletin.com.

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