The toughest beat in Yellowstone Park

Click title to view Correctional Officer announcement at USA Jobs. Back returns you to blog.

Who says the Correctional Peace Officer profession isn't an interesting one? Riders interested in protecting the public by walking the line at one of our great national treasures have a few days left to apply.

Here Come De Judge (maybe).

Federal Judge Thelton Henderson is quoted in a story by Claire Cooper in today's SACRAMENTO PRAVDA as saying he is "taking the gloves off" in his dealings with the state over inmate health care.

The judge allegedly expressed unhappiness that the state can find money for the Governor's smoking tent (which I believe is NOT paid for with any government money) but is not making necessary changes in health care for criminals.

The judge stated that unless Arnie personally delegates someone to cut through the red tape to deal with the problem, he will convene hearings and appoint a person to the position himself. Paul Mello, a private lawyer working for the state in this matter, stated for the record that Arnie is working on the problem. Mr. Mello, however, was unable to tell Judge Henderson where exactly the process was or how long it was expected to take. The judge was apparently not amused. According to Judge Henderson the system is short about 100 doctors and 500 nurses. The agency did not argue with those figures.

Your friend and mine, Gloria Romero, echoed the judge. She stated that explanations will be demanded from Spud himself as well as Ms. Woodforbrains when their confirmation hearings come around. Julie Soderlund, mouthpiece for Arnie, is quoted as saying that yesterday Arnie appointed Dr. Peter Farber-Szekrenyi as chief of health care services and Darc Keller as assistant secretary for health care policy and that Arnie will "hold them accountable for bringing needed reform to our prison health care system". The article did not state whether or not Ms. Soderlund's nose was noted to have changed in length as she said it.

Of Shinola and holes in the ground...

The following "Employee Counseling Record" was issued to Paul Labbe, PA II and Original Rider by Terrance Burns, ERO. Labbe's response is also included. See if you can figure out who knows his ass from a hole in the ground and who does NOT know sh*t from Shinola...

"Mr. Labbe this discussion is a result of a recently concluded investigation. The investigation alleged that you misused state property. The alleged misuse was for political/personal gain. On or about November 4, 2004 you generated or caused to be generated an email which stated "Today you should receive your CCPOA ballot in the mail" and "a vote for Paul Labbe as your CCPOA board member is a vote to keep you informed about what is going on in Region III!" This email was apparently generated from your personal email account Paul_Labbe@aol.com and sent to several state email Addresses. It is unclear whether the computer used to send the E-Mail was a computer from outside the CDC network or a computer at a work location. However, you admitted the E-Mail was sent by your wife at your direction. This would suggest the E-Mail was sent from outside the CDC network. Nonetheless, CDC Operations Manuel (sic) Section 480101.5 states in part that users are prohibited from utilizing the facilities and capabilities of work group computers to conduct any electoral engineering or political relations activities and engaging in any activities for personal gain. Generating and forwarding, or having forwarded E-Mail to CDC Computers for personal/political gain, constitutes misuse of the departments work group computing technologies and is therefore a violation of the aforementioned policy.

Mr. Labbe you are instructed to review CDC Operations Manual Section 480101.5, to familiarize yourself with the approved and prohibited uses of California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation workgroup computing technologies.

Labbe responds:

First of all the DOM section quoted is incorrect and should be 48010.5. Second this investigation would not have occured had it not mentioned the untimely demise of Regional Administrator Keith Matsuo and is retaliatory in nature. Thirdly the efficiency of your crack investigatory staff should have concluded their investigation in 15 minutes instead of the 11 months and 3 weeks that it took. Fourthly if a DOM section is quoted to be reviewed it should be studied by the issuer to make sure that it is even applicable. The section states that USERS will not use the facilities & capabilities of workgroup computing. Since a CDC system was not used to transmit the alleged email it can not be conceived or contrived to be considered a violation of departmental policy.

Better luck next time.

-Paul Labbe

Note: The above was transcribed as written, the exception being the sic annotation in the first paragraph.

Dovey on CPO shortage: drastic action needed...under separate cover

Attached are 2 jpg files comprising a memo from John Dovey. (I was unable to convert it to text as the fax received was of low quality).

Dovey Memo Page 1
Dovey Memo Page 2

Dovey does an adequate job of describing the overcrowding/understaffing problem facing DORC. He does an EXCELLENT job avoiding placing blame....

Note the final paragraph:

"Based on the above facts, we believe that an imminent and substantial threat to the public safety exists requiring immediate action. In a separate document, I will be forwarding some unprecedented recommendations to modify a variety of correctional operations to alleviate the significant population pressures that are affecting public safety."

Hmmmm. Would that be a "CONFIDENTIAL MEMO" JD? What happened to the transparency Spud flaps his gums about? How is it that a crisis "requiring immediate attention" can wait for a 2nd draft? And, if "population pressures...are affecting public safety" why hasn't something been done already? Did the problem just "happen?"

Keep an eye open, Riders. This memo is a trial balloon designed to grease the rails for the abrogation of your collective bargaining rights.

More to follow...

If it pleases the Court...

Live Streaming audio from Sack-B

Click title to access Sack-B article. Site registration required. BACK returns to blog.

Riders will recall that GA$ and Spud dared Judge Roy Bean Henderson to take over CDC's healthcare system. When the Crown Prince of Activist Judges called their bluff, they rolled out the Welcome Wagon for Strap-On John Hagar.

To the surprise of no one with a 3 digit IQ, Hagar is NOT the perfect boarder. Without so much as a "thank you" for the festive Welcome to DORC Fruitbasket, he started moving the furniture and reviewing swatches for remodeling the entire house.

As far as Strap-On John is concerned the quest to give inmates quality healthcare takes precedence over all else. Thus, a 10 day hiring process makes perfect sense. Never mind that the security of a state prison is at stake--just hire more medical staff. Security-Schmecurity! Still short of staff? No problem, just force the State to raise salaries--the California Constitution be damned!

The hiring and payscale of MD's and RN's may seem a trifle to some but it's HUGE! As previously noted, the Court doesn't care about California's budget process, revenue or plans. If Roy Bean decides DORC must provide certain services, the State must find the money. And, if that money was earmarked for operations...tough!

You ain't seen nothing yet, folks.

Help is on the way, Spud!

Click title to access linked site.

It's encouraging to see they finally recognize the problem.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

For those of Paco's readers who perhaps don't peruse the Bulletin Board system, Capn Crunch has posted a really interesting link to a report on the CDC Board in that system. If I copied it right, this is the link.

http://cpr.ca.gov/report/indrpt/corr/report/5.htm

If you have the time (it is 30 pages) it is worthwhile reading.

Real Estate bubble bursts: Spud sells parcel for $1

Item #1:

One of Paco's always-right sources claims the Schwarzenegger Administration recently sold a parcel of real estate, valued in the high 6 figures (to over a million), to Amity Foundation for ONE DOLLAR (presumably US currency). This sleazy move was first exposed in the blog on June 24, 2005 and detailed in full via the reprinting of a departmental white paper counseling against the transaction.

DORC, under the "transparent" leadership of Spud, must have worked in concert with Senator Cedillo to slip enabling language into a bill somewhere along the line. That's what the white paper indicated DORC needed to do in order to perform an end run around STATE LAW. Yet, nothing the gifters of public property did abrogates federal law.

As the paper clearly noted, the parcel in question was purchased with federal highway funds--any transfer of the property would require refunding the feds. Perhaps they will send Bush the buck?

So, did DORC "sell" (give) the property to Amity? Is it true the property was twice removed from public auction, where it was likely to sell for over a half million, to give it to Amity for no stated purpose? And what about Senator Speier's hearing this week? Why wasn't Speier interested in Dr. Krupp's testimony on THIS waste?

One thing's for certain, you won't find these questions (much less answers) in the Sack-B, LA Times, Press-Enterprise, Mercury News, Sun-Telegram, Tribune, Herald...

Item #2:

The following message was received from a pre-eminent Rider...

"[At] OSAP's "Criminal Justice Institute" last week...Hickman was the key note speaker...He spent the first 10 to 15 minutes talking about how "Paco Villa" had made him famous and attempting to crack jokes about it. He claimed he told his mother the blog had made him famous....it was obvious to Spud reads the blog every day.

Now, I've talked to mangers who say Hickman used to be publicly hostile to the blog so this is something of a change.

Also, Hickman spent a lot of time talking about about his role in Valdivia. He now says he made the agreement to save parole from something much worse that the judge was about to impose.

Anyway, thought you would enjoy this.

Indeed I do. And, I agree with Spud, Paco did make him famous...much as the MSM "made" Dan Quayle's reputation. The difference between Spud and the former VP: Quayle knew they were making an idiot out of him.

Item #3:

Something about Mary...

What manager failed her peace officer background investigation ONLY to have the position she was PRE-HIRED to fill reclassified to non-peace officer status? Was the decision to facilitate Mrs. DQ's hiring despite closeted skeletons influenced by the fact she was the product of a publicly touted "national search" for talent?

Is it true she doesn't like to read memos, especially "difficult" ones? AND, since she doesn't read memos, she doesn't distribute the ones she gets to her subordinates? Does she conduct monthly meetings with contract privateer CEOs while failing to meet with her own staff for over six months? And, if she is so indispensable, how come she is more-often-than-not out of state as a Red Cross volunteer?

Jim L'Etoile is said to have lobbied against her appointment. He was purportedly kicked upstairs and out of OSAP to make room for her.

How BAD can she be if the John didn't want her?

Cutthroats in the community: Cooper Gulch revisited

Our recent posts concerning Studiogate have generated several comments from veteran Riders about the bloody Cooper Gulch incident. While that disgraceful page of recent history is well known to Riders of long standing, we know many new ones are not familiar with the story.

Careful readers should note the "investigation" CDC managers said was in progress [when they lied to the Eureka City Council] was done in such a professional manner that the parole agent at SATF who reccomended against the cutthroat's early release was never interviewed, nor was the anyone else at the prison.

Our friends in the mainstream media have ignored Cooper Gulch. Perhaps, like Studiogate, a State Senator will give the press permission to cover the story.

The links below are provided as a public service:

Drug Treatment Programs the Arnold Schwarzenegger Way: Anatomy of a Public Safety Disaster, part 1

Drug Treatment Programs the Arnold Schwarzenegger Way: Anatomy of a Public Safety Disaster, part 2

Cutthroats in the Community: part 3

Cutthroats in the Community: Prison Reform the Arnold Schwarzenegger Way, part 4

Prison Reform and Drug Treatment the Schwarzenegger Way: Anatomy of a Public Safety Disaster, part 5

Corrections Reform and Drug Treatment the Schwarzenegger Way: Anatomy of a Public Safety Disaster, part 6

Blaming the Messenger and Shooting the Little Guys: Treatment of People in Schwarzenegger's Parole Service

Dear Law-and-Order poser c/o GOP, Sacramento RFD.

Dear (select one):

a) Republican Assembly Member
b) Republican Senator
c) State GOP Official

Your dedication to public safety is undeniable. In the past you have (select one):

a) advocated enhanced sentencing for violent crime,
b) supported adequate funding of public safety programs,
c) expressed support for the ranks of law enforcement officers,
d) all of the above,

however, all of that changed...YOU CHANGED...once Arnold Schwarzenegger became Governor. Since then, you have been silent as the "p" in swimming.

• the Governor appointed a liberal Democrat to run the corrections system and you said nothing.
  
• He decided to change the name of the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and liberalized the parole revocation system via a "new model" stressing "alternatives to incarceration. The resulting decrease in "violations" not only produced a corresponding increase in new felony commitments, it produced numerous dead citizens. We haven't heard a peep about this from you...
  
• The activist 9th Circuit has taken over the state's prison healthcare system. It has inserted itself at every level of the system and is poised to place the entire agency under federal receivership. As a rule, one expects the GOP to rail against activist judges and unchecked Court power. YET, the Governor publicy INVITED this saying "take over the whole system for all I care." That must be why you haven't said diddly...
  
• The new REHABILITATION agency is attempting to close Valley State Prison for Women and place the convicted felons there in "community beds." Again, your objections to the outrage must've been drowned out by a pack of Tourette's inflicted mimes because we haven't heard so much as a harumph from you...

The list goes on but the point is clear: the GOP no longer cares about law and order. So, the only discernable difference between your position on corrections and that of your Democrat Party counterparts is whether or not cellmates may wed.

Sooner, rather than later, the public will wake up to the reality of the GOP's weakness on public safety. Once that happens, the "law and order" party disappears like flatus in a high wind.

Ask not for whom the cheese is cut, it's cut for thee.

Prison Health Care Circling The Bowl According To Strap-On John.

I had the dubious honor of spending a little over an hour at the tire store today, so I bought both a Sacramento PRAVDA and a SF CHRONICLE. Both of these paragons of media liberalism had articles about the CDC-r Movie Studio (which brother OSAPian has already spoken to eloquently) and the dismal state of prison health care, as determined by John Hagar (AKA Strap-On John). John is determined to be a court appointed expert on prison health care due to his status as a road-puppy of federal judge Thelton Henderson, who is absolutely convinced that DORC is still knocking off inmates at about the rate of one per week due to grossly inadequate and incompetent health care.

Apparently John and Thelton are finding out just how hard it is to recruit for prison health care jobs. The court has contracted with an international head-hunter firm to try to find someone who is both stupid enough to take over the DORC health care system with the feds looking over his/her shoulder, and who has at least some sort of half-assed credentials to do so. So far they have had no luck finding anyone who meets both criteria.

Apparently John recently issued a 33 page report detailing just how messed up DORC inmate health care is, and how little DORC has done to fix the problem. (Hell John, YOU are supposed to be fixing it now. Why should DORC do your job for you?) Arnie and his merry band of syncophants are allegedly "working on some key appointments", whatever that means. John points out in his epistle that Dr. Renee Kana, head chingon of Division of Health Care Services, has not even begun the study of salary levels. That study will not even start until next summer. Dr. Kanan has been telling the court for some time that her office "was preparing" such a study. Maybe that means they were studying to prepare a study, sometime. DORC has stated that they are down about 30% on medical doctors, and 65% on supervising doctors. Apparently there is now only one medical doctor on staff at PVSP, where there are 6,000 criminals housed. (I confess that does sound a wee tad like sub-minimal staffing to me.)

Tell you what John. I know where you can get $500K worth of video equipment you can sell off on e-bay and maybe hire some staff with that money. Call my friend OSAPian, he will tell you where DORC stashed it.

Borg fails to assimilate Speier....DORC Mullen over studio options.

Click title to access Sack-B article. Site registration may be required. BACK returns to blog.

The attached Sack-B article on the Studiogate hearings is submitted for your amusement...

Paco sends surprised kudos to Senator Speier who soundly cleaned the clock of administrative apologist Dean Borg.

[Borg] defended the expense as "an appropriate decision."Borg barely began his next sentence before Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, lashed out at him.

"This money is appropriated by the Legislature, and it's used for specific purposes," said Speier... "To say that this was an appropriate decision is not one that you should be making. So why don't you just give us the facts, and not the editorial?"(Sack-B).

Welcome to punkville, Dean of Borg. Population: You.

Audio clip: Senator Speier, suffering from a sore throat, offers an observation to Dean Borg


The Borg consoled The panel with reassurances that

...the department is currently reviewing the inappropriate procedures used to purchase the film equipment and expects to begin an audit next year.(Sack-B).

How hard can it be to read the memo, signed by Jim the John L'Etoile, abrogating the entire budget and oversight process? The only "inappropriate procedure" was the John's documented violation of the law. Of course, this will all come out when the planned "audit" blames the John for the entire debacle...on the 7th anniversary of his 2nd retirement...

Of particular interest to Paco is the following tidbit about Amity and the multi-mouthed Rod Mullen...

The Porterville-based firm, which has received $31 million in state funding since 2000 to run drug treatment programs at state prisons, made one 210-minute training video released in June, said Amity Chief Executive Officer Rod Mullen in an interview with The Bee. The company agreed last week to return the equipment to the state.

Hmmm. Isn't it interesting that, back in June, Mullen adamantly defended the studio mess* (and the great property give-away*) here in the blog? You may recall that he publicly accused Paco and OSAPian of misrepresenting the facts in his posts. Now we learn SH-Amity quietly agreed to give the studio equipment back to the state just last week!

That's crow, Rod Mullen. I hear it's best served cold...let us know, won't you?

*Mullen's babbles are contained in the comments of the above linked posts.

The man who approved Studiogate

Clicking the title takes you to The California Channel. Once there, find "Web Archive" and enter November 2005, then click "11/14/05 Assembly Select Committee on Prison Construction and Operations." Jim L'Etoile's testimony starts 33:00 minutes into the stream.

Jim L'Etoile has done very well for himself since he approved Studiogate. Our executive-patriot did a stint as the acting chief of institutions after leaving OSAP and got another promotion when Arnold Schwarzenneger appointed him as the first director of adult parole in the reformed CDCR. GA$ made the move AFTER we exposed Studiogate here and here and here and AFTER Driftwood commissioned the "review" discussed in yesterday's rant.

Jimbo is also up to his ears in a highly inappropriate multi-million dollar property give-a-way to the same company.

By happenstance (perhaps serendipity) L'Etoile was also at the Capitol yesterday. At about the same time Jackie Speire was asking CDCR's legislative flunkie to produce the manager who approved the movie studio flimflam, Jim was testifying before Rudy Bermudez's Assembly committee.

Ducking Jackie won't always be that easy for Mr. L'Etoile. His appointment as parole supernumerary is subject to Senate confirmation ...

Cross posted this morning at the Patriotic Rants blog.

Dr. Krupp testifies about Studiogate ...

Clicking the title takes Riders to The California Channel. Once there, go to "Web Archive" and enter November 2005, then click "11/14/05 Senate Select Committee on Government Cost Control." Dr. Krupp's testimony starts 48:08 minutes into the stream.

Bob Walsh and your OSAPian represented the blog today as observers at the State Senate's informational hearing concerning Studiogate. Dr. Richard Krupp acquitted himself with honor, in stark contrast to CDCR's hapless representative who appeared to be there only to protect a senior Schwarzenneger appointee on the fast track.

Riders will recall we broke the Studiogate story here and here and here in back in June.

While Dr. Krupp's testimony and the official response stand alone, one fact disclosed today says much about how Arnold's reformed prison service responds to news of malfeasance by senior managers.

After we fronted off the department concerning Studiogate, a "review" was ordered by CDCR leadership. Not an audit, a "review."

FYI, senior CDCR managers order "reviews" instead of audits when it is their intention to [unofficially] get the facts about embarassing foul ups by other senior managers and then do an [unoffical] clean up to protect them before pesky watchdogs (in this case Senator Jackie Speire) ask too many questions.

Never fear, CDCR assured Senator Speire that a real audit of Studiogate would be conducted sometime in the first quarter of 2006.

Kudos to Speire and Senator Nell Soto who were present [and interested] during the entire hearing. Roy Asburn made a brief cameo appearance but was long gone before Dr. Krupp testified. Charles Poochigigian and Jack Scott were no shows.

Apparently the GOP's elected representatives in Sacramento have no interest in protecting the taxpayers when Schwarzenegger administration appointees are doing the fleecing.

Tuber sleuths should understand today was a scheduled RDO for OSAPian. An O-dark-30 wake up call, seven hours on the road, fifty bucks for diesel fuel and $13.50 in parking fees was time and money well spent to see Studiogate exposed at the Capitol.

Cross posted tonight as "Dr. Krupp exposes Studiogate" at the Patriotic Rants blog.

More drug treatment malfeasance

GA$ promised to reform government in California beginning with the Department of Corrections. Spud Hickman (the first YACA Secretary with a high school diploma as his terminal educational accomplishment) was promoted to clean house at the rogue agency.

Spud promised to make the rehabilitation of convicted felons his first priority and allied himself [and the Schwarzenegger administration] with gal radical Gloria Romero as she crafted legislation that reorganized state corrections with the treatment of convicted felons [supposedly] as its primary function.

A central tenet of drug and alcohol treatment is "continuity of care." That means participants in programs should remain in them until completion. Simply put, they shouldn't be jerked around. In the case of in-prison Substance Abuse Programs (SAPs), inmates should stay in them until they parole or are placed in community-based Drug Treatment Furlough (DTF) facilities immediately prior to their parole. Most inmates placed in SAPs are not volunteers and it takes time for them to buy into treatment.

Inmates who complete in-prison SAP programs are eligible for up to six months of additional treatment (called "aftercare") in structured residential programs on the CDCR's dime when they parole. Inmates who leave in-prison SAP programs before they parole can not apply for after care treatment.

Your OSAPian is a parole agent detailed to one of the two SAPs at SATF, California's "flagship" in-prison drug and alcohol abuse treatment institution. 1,500 inmates participate in the programs. They are housed in two facilities specifically designed for the mission of providing treatment to level 2 inmates with substance abuse problems.

Many inmates at SATF arrive with level 2 scores, program well in the SAPs, and become level 1 prisoners when their points drop at annual classification reviews. It was a well established practice in the antebellum CDC to retain these inmates at SATF in the SAPs on "over-ride" status to allow them to complete the programs and remain eligible for aftercare. This was a very sound practice from a public policy standpoint: substance abusing felons are much less likely to commit new crimes if they clean up and "continuity of care" is vital to that effort.

Makes sense right? Well, not to the reformers GA$ and Spud have selected to call the shots in our prison and parole service. Recently an edict came down ordering SATF to transfer "out-of-level" inmates to other prisons consistent with their classification scores. Classification staff are now in a mad rush to transfer hundreds of these level 1 inmates out of the SAP facilities. In a demonstration of stupidity of the most rigid sort, Correctional Counselors have been ordered not to refer eligible inmates for DTF placement and instead send them to Minimum Support Facilities (MSFs).

There are not nearly enough MSFs with SAPs to accommodate the inmates now being kicked out of SATF's programs, meaning treatment for most of them will soon be a thing of the past. CDC(-r) has had nothing but trouble keeping the Drug Treatment Furlough programs at anywhere near budgeted capacity. This action will effectively end DTF placements.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gloria Romero, the caucuses of their respective --- if not respectable --- political parties, and the supplicant MSM continue to bow at the alter of Spud while blaming "reactionary" CPOs and our union for not getting on board the Hickman reform express.

The reason most of us hold Spud in such contempt is because we see first hand the disconnect between his rehabilitation [on the cheap] happy talk and they way the prison and parole service he now owns is administered in practice. The rehabilitation programs that existed when Arnold appointed Hickman have deteriorated significantly --- by both design and incompetence --- while his treatment initiatives have been fiascoes.

Forcing hundreds of inmates out of substance abuse programs that might actually do them some good and, therefore, protect the public we serve is just the latest in a long list of Hickman SNAFUs.

Related post: More rehabilitation follies.

Cross posted this morning at the Patriotic Rants blog.

Speier's committee to hear about Studiogate?

Monday, the Select Committee on Government Cost Control will hear about Studiogate, first publicly exposed here by OSAPian.

Dr. Richard Krupp, whistle-blower and hero, will testify.

If you can possibly attend, please do.

Paco will be there.
***************************************

SELECT COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT COST CONTROL
SPEIER, Chair
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Rm 4203 (John L. Burton Hearing Room)
INFORMATIONAL HEARING
SUBJECT: Identifying Waste and Inefficiencies in State Government

Arnie Actually Gave A Nice Speech.

I listened to Arnie between about 1305 and 1340 on Tom Sullivan's show on KFBK today. It was a good speech concerning the recent election. Basically, Arnie said that, if it had won big, he would have gotten the credit and since it lost big he was willing to take the blame. He tried it, it cost a lot of money and didn't work. He just finished a Big 5 Get Together, which he said was very positive. He wants to get together (or at least says he wants to get together) with the nurses, teachers, prison workers, and others and see what can be done together rather than fighting each other.

Do we believe him? I don't know. Can we work with him in the future? I don't know. Mike Jiminez came on shortly after Arnie. Unfortunately Mike didn't hear Arnie's speech so he couldn't comment on it. He did say, however, that he does not trust Arnie based on history. Sullivan (who I listen to a lot since I retired and who seems to be very savvy and a straight shooter) seemed genuinely shocked that Arnie's people won't return phone calls to CCPOA. Also, while Mike was on, an official from the CTA (Calif. Teacher's Association) called in and said they have the same problem. Arnie's people refuse to even talk with them. That also surprised Sullivan.

It is easier to work with people than against them. The thing is, some people just won't let you work with them. Did Arnie tell his people to cut the unions out of the communication circuit, or did his handlers just decide to do it on their own? Damned if I know. One thing that I thought was VERY TELLING was that Arnie said that he doesn't think he has EVER fired anybody, and that nobody was getting canned because of the election debacle. It seems that even if DORC and Spud prove out to be very bad ideas (see Paco's previous post about a homicide coverup 6 weeks ago at VSPW) Arnie will hang with them. Maybe Arnie needs to make some changes and then maybe, just maybe, we can work with him instead of against him. It would be nice, but don't hold your breath.

VSPW Homicide cover-up!

On 10/16/05, at approximately 2000 hours, 2 inmates at Valley State Prison for Women were involved in an altercation on the yard. One inmate died from a blow to the head. HOWEVER, Spud's PR machine covered it up. The official line is that the deceased, known to Paco only as Inmate Toledo, died from a pre-existing medical condition. Paco's source, who has NEVER steered us wrong, indicates the head trauma is well documented. Therefore, unless the aformentioned medical condition is an allergic reaction to head trauma, someone is LYING...AGAIN.

Now, why would DORC try to cover up an inmate homicide? Well, perhaps it is because a BCP has been submitted to CLOSE the prison and reassign the population to "community centers?" The BCP, a stealth move if ever there was one, is hush-hush at HQ. Who needs a murder to get the public excited about the prospect of housing felons in the community?

For the benefit of the media and the various LEA's responsible for investigating official corruption, allow me to summarize:

DORC is covering up a CRIME

in order to grease the rails

for the Governor's

Public Safety

on the Cheap Plan.

You can go back to sleep now.

State Auditor Points Out That Spud Is A Liar And An Idiot.

In an Associated Press story that appeared in various print outlets this morning State Auditor Elaine Howie points out that Agency Secretary Rod Hickman is both a liar and an idiot. That is, of course, no surprise for those of us who know him.

When Emperor Spud cancelled three parole programs back in April he stated that it was because there was no evidence the programs were working, even though the staff actually working in the programs said otherwise. Ms. Howie, in a report released Wednesday, stated that there was in fact information available that could have been used to support the programs (even though, admittedly, DORC never properly established standards by which to judge the programs). Ms. Howie also pointed out that DORC grossly overestimated the savings from these programs, by a factor of about 700%. (Spud's minions estimated $100 million, a nice round number. Actually it was about $14.5 million. You have to work at it to be that far off.)

Spud's pet spinmeister, J. P. Trembley, trying hard to put lipstick on a pig, stated that the report actually said DORC did the right thing by stopping the programs, and that even though there may have been data available DORC had no way to analyze it.

The article also points out that UC Irvine's Center For Evidence-Based Corrections is now doing analysis of this sort of thing under contract for Sir Spud.

The three programs which were shut down had a total participation of 5,742 stakeholders. Only about 5% of them were returned to custody during the program.

Mea Culpa (Really!)

I think it is easier for Paco to admit error because seniority brings opportunity. That is, it's a lot harder to deny it given an expanding history of boners (puns are ALWAYS intended). Bromidic openers complete, I now apologize to Press-Enterprise reporter Paige Austin...

Tuesday's post Press-Enterprise's Paige Austin says: Love that Spud! (and a subsequent email from Paco) chastized Ms. Austin for repeating the canard that CPO's "travel the state protesting Hickman's public appearances." Well, it turns out Austin followed sound journalistic practice and CONFIRMED THE STATEMENT WITH CCPOA! I can only surmise that the individual Austin interviewed (a person Paco holds in very high regard) was either under the impression Paco's Riders were shadowing Spud or felt the counter-event at the Sac Elks Lodge validated the blanket statement. In any case, I was wrong. Austin did her homework.

Paco maintains the statement is inaccurate insofar as one incident, 10 months prior, does not "Officers travel[ing] the state protesting Hickman's public appearances" make. Moreover, "Spudfest 2005" was not a protest of a Hickman "public appearance"--it was a demonstration of righteous indignation over Spud hosting a "celebration of our accomplishments" a few weeks after Manuel Gonzalez' funeral. In point of fact, it was the brother and cousins of the murdered CPO who "traveled the state" that day. These facts notwithstanding, Austin's report was essentially accurate and she certainly rubbed my nose in it...quite professionally at that.

In addition to this apology, I must also apologize for calling Ms. Austin a "punk" in an earlier email. I honestly thought I had never applied the term to a female--I also thought I was above sending such visceral missives (having chastized many a CPO for this very offense). Yet, professional that she is, Austin had the offending message in her Save box. Yikes!

For the record, Ms. Austin is not a punk. I found her to be a very thoughtful person who, my invective not withstanding, has a very open mind. I don't expect her to alter the content or tone of future DORC articles because of the exchange, however, I know she will ask some hard questions the next time. You see, journalists are the only folks who hate being BS'd more than CPOs.

To summarize, I apologize for publicly calling Austin a Spud cheerleader and accusing her of sloppy journalism, privately calling her a punk and, most importantly, exposing her to professional ridicule for having spoken with a (gulp) BLOGGER! I pray her career does not suffer.


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Arnie Shot Down (probably), At Least For Now.

As of this writing (0900 hrs Nov 9) it looks like all four of Arnie's propositions have failed. What does that mean for our profession?

It means that the PAC will continue to function effectively (as will those from our more radical fellow State Employee unions) and the legislature will continue with it's current districts until the next regular redistricting following the 2010 census. That does not mean, however, that everything is wonderful for organized labor in state employment.

Our contract is up in July of next year. Unless one of the fledgling Impeach Arnie movements actually goes somewhere (very unlikely) CCPOA will be dealing with Arnie for the new contract, and Spud will still be at least nominally in charge of DORC (the image of a sinking ship with a moronic captain and a broken rudder comes to mind, I can't imagine why). The new academy at NCWF may be up and running so we may not get beaten to death by retirement next year (maybe).

Arnie may decide to pull out of the Governor's reelection race. Don't count on it. The Republicans have no obvious replacement. Either way the association will do well to hold on to our current contract language the next time around. Arnie is not our friend. Secretary Hickman is not our friend. Our old friends in the legislature may stand with us, they may not. The next couple of years are going to be tough. Get used to the thought. Until we get a Governor who does not hate state employees and a Secretary with an IQ above room temperature who does not look at the Department as his personal toy box, it's what we have to deal with.

Lodi PD Attempt Stakeholder Rehabilitation.

According to various broadcast media outlets the Lodi PD today attempted to rehabilitate key stakeholder Chad Morrow shortly after noon today.

The Lodi PD attempted to take Mr. Morrow, who is a wanted parolee sex offender, into custody. Mr. Morrow, apparently concerned about the quality of services about to be offered to him by a non-CDC(R) entity, rammed a PD vehicle and them jumped from his car with a gun in hand. At that time the Lodi PD staff attempted more strenuous rehabilitation of Mr. Morrow. Those efforts were not entirely successful and Mr. Morrow is currently in the hospital sucking up copious amounts of taxpayer money. His condition has not been released.

Press-Enterprise's Paige Austin says: Love that Spud!

After reading Paige Austin's tribute to Spud in Sunday's Press-Enterprise (Riverside) one might wonder when Roderick Q. Hickman's actual beatification began. The Saintly, sage-like Superman Ms. Austin assembled for public consumption bears little resemblance to the babbling, bumbling back-stabber we know as Spud. Still, the Press-Enterprise is a NEWSpaper so this MUST be the real dope.

Among the many pearls Austin casts before the reader:

• Spud's Words to live by: "Integrity is who you are in the dark." (OK, Saint Rod, the actual expression is Ethics are what you do when no one is looking.) In the dark you are blind and nobody can see you...Hmmm....this DOES make sense. AND,
• "Right is right and right don't wrong nobody." Ever heard of a double negative, M' Lord? If 'right' does not' wrong NObody' then it must wrong somebody...Hmmmm....AGAIN...this all fits....

It is worth noting Spud has now moderated his rhetoric on the Code of Silence. With Austin's assistance, he now implies he was only addressing a phenomenon that was previously ignored--No longer does Spud assert a pervasive code.

"To tell me that there is not a code of silence is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Hickman said. "Yes it exists. It exists in all professions."

AND, you never heard that from this site or from CCPOA. MOREOVER, the most ridiculous thing you ever heard was "Congratulations, you are now the Agency Secretary" but you're too full of yourself to realize it.

I offer the following quote as irrefutable proof of Spud's dishonesty and Ms. Austin's infatuation with him :

"Officers travel the state protesting Hickman's public appearances."

This NEVER happened, folks.* The closest it ever came to that was a post on the bulletin boards suggesting parole agents attend Spud's appearance in San Diego. HOWEVER, nobody in their right minds would listen to Spud speak on their own time--nobody protested because nobody showed up. EXCEPT FOR A SPECIAL DETAIL OF BODYGUARDS!

That's correct. It seems one of the many people Spud pays to read the blog and bulletin boards found the post and they went into crisis mode! Apparently it was reasoned angry agents would attempt to harm the Great Tater. WOW! We must really be getting under somebody's supplement-enhanced skin, huh? One thing's for certain: Austin ran with Spud's lie.

In any case, Spud's High School football coach summed it up for me,

"He's a horrible loser," Roberts recalls.

Or, Coach, a real good one. It all depends on whether or not you're of the "glass is half empty" persuasion .

*The counter-event staged at Spud's "Celebration" in Sacramento may be deemed the exception. However, the "protest" was over staging a "gala" within weeks of Manuel Gonzalez' murder/funeral. ("You say potato and I say..." SPUD).

Spud News

Click title to access latest edition of DORC's Staff Newsletter. Adobe Reader required.

The November 7 edition of Spud News is worth the read. Here are some highlights:

A new feature, "15 minutes with..." highlights new staff appointees. This month, "15 minutes with Ryken Grattet." 15?

• Mr. Grattet painfully explains what research is (and does) in an interview that clearly took more than 15 minutes to conduct.
• Given a 70% comprehension rate at the average reading speed of 300-350 wpm, 15 Minutes shouldn't take more than 5 or 6 minutes to read
• It is possible the feature is nothing more than a play on Andy Warhol's "prediction" the future grants all comers 15 minutes of fame. If that's the case, Grattet must surely be as disappointed with his time in the spotlight as the rest of us.

Under the heading "Strategic Plan Update," we learn:

• the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA, as in Snake A) awarded Spud the "Innovations in Government Award" for his "Strategic Plan."
• In the 2nd bullet, we are told "the first ever Strategic Plan performance measures quarterly report will be issued on October 28th." And, finally,
• "The Strategic Planning Coalition has been meeting regularly to review and adopt revisions to each goal of the Strategic Plan. The revisions will be completed and adopted during the months of September and October to ensure the release of the revised Strategic Plan in November 2005."

Now, insofar as the date of this "news" was November 1, 2005, Paco wonders why the "update" addresses milestones (or, in Spud's case, millstones) that should have transpired before publication. What's up with that JP?

Further, how come ASPA awarded a Strategic Plan that has yet to issue a "performance measures quarterly (?) report, yet, is being constantly revised by a committee "meeting regularly to review and adopt revisions to each goal of the Strategic Plan."

Wow! If ASPA likes the plan now, just wait 'til it's finished!

A change of pace ...

The "inadequate" funding of public education in California is an issue most often addressed in the context of 30 second politically motivated sound bites aimed at appealing to the emotional. Your OSAPian has done some research on the subject that might be of interest to Riders:

More on education spending ...

The real public education crisis ...

It Isn't Over Until ........

The polls that have made most of the news the last few days in California have shown all four of Arnie's propositions easily going down to defeat. It isn't necessarily the way things are really going.

There are other polls out there, which question likely voters, not just registered voters. These polls show only 76 going down the drain, the other three either winning or within the margin of error.

As much as most of Paco's readers would like to see Arnie slapped down I remind everyone that It isn't over until the votes are counted and certified. No matter how you feel about these things (personally I hope 77 does pass and passes big) every little bit helps and every single vote counts (except for military ballots in Dade County, but that's another story all together). If you've got something to say, SAY IT. Use your voice, use your vote.

Decisions are made by those who show up.

For Pete's sake.

Why Arnold is a pig

Live Streaming audio from Sack-B

Click title to access Peter Schrag's column at Sack-B. BACK returns to blog.

If there was a doubt in the mind of any sane person, Peter Schrag lays to rest the notion Arnold Schwarzenegger can speak when not seated in Pete Wilson's lap. GA$ has wrecklessly implemented plans Wilson merely fantasized about as governor--The former's poll numbers reinforcning the wisdom of the latter's prior restraint. It is plain to see Wilson used a boob as his ex post facto proxy (pawn, puppet, punk). It is less clear why he didn't go to the mat himself.

Wilson was an anti-union Mayor in San Diego who nearly broke the city police union. His record and rhetoric as a United States Senator belied a similar attitude toward unions--public sector unions in particular. Yet, the Wilson Administration observed the Dills Act et al, negotiated with the state's bargaining units and, generally, engendered acceptable labor practices throughout the bureacracy.

His puppet, on the other hand, violates not only the agreements the state employer is bound by, but the practice and spirit of acceptable labor relations as well. He negotiates with CCPOA after the union volunteered to arrange a paycut/deferral. After the deal is signed, he "attends" a tele-conference with the union's board of directors to express gratitude for their good stewardship. In a matter of weeks, he labeled them criminals and called for union leaders to be placed "on the other side of the bars" in his State of the State Address. Etc. etc. etc.

Make no mistake about it, Pete Wilson hated state employees more than Charlie McSchwarzenegger ever did. The difference (and I know this will inspire gasps and nasty emails) is that Pete Wilson had integrity. He was a man of his word. The law said he HAD to recognize and work with the unions, so he did. A code of ethics, and good politics, prevented him from bad mouthing folks after signing a duly negotiated contract with them. Governor Gumby is not so encumbered.

Wilson was an officer in the Marine Corp, where honor and decorum are foundational. During the same stage in his life Schwarzenegger was slamming steroids, pushing weights, oiling-up and flexing in front of a mirror. Honor and decorum are not as highly prized in the world of Musco-Narcissism.

GA$ is a back-stabber. Wilson, on the other hand, would never stab anyone in the back. Rather, he preferred to stick you right in the gut--close up and personal-like. He was one mean SOB but, as with a junk yard dog, you knew it and kept your distance.

So, here we are, fighting the Pete Wilson that Pete Wilson's rulebook wouldn't permit. Much as older boys will wheedle young, naive children to mischief, Pete Wilson is raising Hell through Li'l Arnold. Not only did this Tom get others to whitewash the fence, he had them paint anti-union graffiti on it.

Personally, I'll take the honest villain every time.

The axe falls at CSU

Linda Rianda is being forced out of her job as chief of the Classification Services Unit (CSU). Two captains in her shop have had their requests for voluntary demotions approved.

Spud Hickman and his sycophants have kept CSU out of the loop during all important inmate population and classification decisions for well over a year now.

While we can probably chalk that up to malignant incompetence, an after-the-fact benefit has been to set Ms. Rianda and her management team up as fall guys for the many population foul ups that have occurred on Spud's watch.

The crisis continues ...

These CDC (-r) changes were effective yesterday:

Dave Runnels, Warden, High Desert State Prison (HDSP), will be assigned as the Deputy Director (A), DAI.

Tom Felker, Chief Deputy Warden, HDSP, will be assigned as the Warden (A), HDSP.

Mike Knowles, Deputy Director (A), DAI, will be assigned as the Associate Director (A), General Population Level III and IV Institutions, DAI.

Suzan Hubbard, Associate Director (A), Female Offender Institutions/Camps/CCF’s, DAI, will be assigned as the Associate Director (A), High Security and Transitional Housing, DAI.

Wendy Still, Associate Director (A), Reception Center Institutions, DAI, will be assigned as the Associate Director (A), Female Offender Institutions/Camps/CCF’s, DAI.

Teresa Schwartz, Warden, California Medical Facility (CMF), will be assigned as the Associate Director (A), Reception Center Institutions, DAI.

Martin Veal, Chief Deputy Warden, CMF, will be assigned as the Warden (A), CMF.

Claude Finn, Associate Director (A), General Population Level II and III Institutions and Male Offender Camps/CCF’s, DAI, will continue to act in this capacity/position.

Derral Adams, Associate Director (A), General Population Level III and IV Institutions, DAI, shall resume his duties as Warden, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison at Corcoran (SATF).

Ken Clark, Warden (A), SATF, shall resume his duties as Chief Deputy Warden, SATF.

Maybe you should vote or something...

Less than half of the CCPOA members receiving ballots for the dues assessment took the time to vote. Insofar as that proposal personally cost all members $33 a month, you have to wonder what percentage will take the time to vote next Tuesday. After all, nothing on the ballot will result in another paycheck deduction!

With voter turnout expected to set a new low, your vote carries a lot more weight. One vote COULD make the difference.

Just do it.