CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

"ANOTHER COMEDY OF ERRORS"

Clipping:
CBC (original at http://www.stjohns.cbc.ca/)
Tuesday, August 29, 2000

Ryan escape still rocking justice system

Webposted at CBC Aug 29 2000 5:46 PM EDT

ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. - The internal investigation into the escape of Richard Ryan isn't over. So far 14 employees are on suspension and more disciplinary action could be on the way. But a situation involving one particular manager has prison guards up in arms.

The man who got the stiffest suspension is also the most senior person disciplined. Dave Scott is the Assistant Superintendent at the penitentiary. His job is security. He's been given a six month suspension.

He's also just months from retirement. So when he was told this news, he offered to resign and sources say that offer was accepted. Then, on Monday, government lawyers sent him a letter telling him he can't retire, he's back on suspension because new information has come to light and he's under investigation.

Scott and other managers in similar situation have hired lawyers to sue the province. But this has made guards furious. Scott is probably the most respected manager at the penitentiary. Sources say he was on holidays when Ryan was granted visits, and had little to do with it.

There's a general sentiment in the penitentiary that all the blame has been directed towards them while none has been placed on senior management in the department.

We put some of these questions to the Justice Minister.

Asked, "What do you say to guards who say you are scapegoating, that you are being too heavy handed with a particular superintendent." Parsons says anyone, including the most senior managers in his department, will be disciplined if an investigation finds them in any way responsible for breaches in Ryan's security.

Parsons says he's prepared to do whatever needs to be done to make sure such an escape never happens again.

The Minister says he's not finished - there could be more disciplinary action to come.

The Minister is also unfazed by some of the criticism levelled at him. He says he has a job to do and anyone who doesn't like it can grieve it. But he also knows he has a serious morale problem. Last week, he said, "This is a prison, not a scout camp." Well, now some guards have taken to answering the phone over there "Boy Scouts of Canada."

They're also angry about the way Ryan is being handled. Security around him is unusually tight. At the penitentiary right now, they can't so much as open Ryan's cell without a manager being present. And now there's word that Ryan is being moved from HMP for security reasons, even though that is the only facility with a special maximum security status. Guards are very suspicious that it's because of ongoing investigations, that they don't want any guards speaking to Ryan.

Journalists have also been denied access to Ryan by corrections officials.

It's clearly an unhappy place, and a story that is far from over.