EPPS, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A shakedown at West Carroll Detention Center has left several prison guards without jobs.
On October 4, the Department of Corrections conducted a full-scale search of the facility looking for contraband and drug use. As a result, 73 inmates were transferred to a South Louisiana prison and several guards were terminated.
"The warden is supposed to do an investigation to find out if it's true or not instead of going on he say/she say," says Darius Lampley.
Lampley, 22, doesn't agree with the way he was fired from his job as an officer at the West Carroll Detention Center.
"That night the warden called me across the street to his office and basically told me he no longer needed my service," Lampley says.
Lampley says this isn't the facilities first search. He's been searched countless times while working at the Detention Center but nothing has ever been found.
The prison is operated by Emerald Correctional Management, which released the following statement:
We were made aware of the situation by our staff at the West Carroll Detention Center and the officials of the Department of Corrections. A thorough review has been underway and will be completed shortly. We are in the process of implementing strict guidelines until the review is completed.
The West Carroll Detention Center is an old facility, which means we have had to evaluate every facet of the physical plant, the design as well as major upgrades to security technology. These steps are an ongoing process that is necessary for us to steadily transition the facility to the standards we and the Department of Corrections expect. State of the art digital cameras were ordered before this incident. This will provide us with the ability to monitor our perimeter and all movement within the facility and is reviewable.
Additionally, we implemented a personnel review which resulted in some terminations.
Unfortunately, while many updates and security innovations and reform measures have been implemented with more on the way- it was not soon enough to eliminate the existing problem.
"It would be wrong of us to ignore, make excuses for or attempt to diminish our responsibilities in this matter, "said Steve Afeman, Chief Operating Officer of Emerald Corrections." This was more than a mistake. It was a breach of security policy, which we live by and take seriously. That is why we took immediate action to first secure the facility and second correct the situation. We are confident that, working with the Department of Corrections we will eliminate this type of problem at the West Carroll Detention Center.
Steve Afeman
Chief Operating Officer
Emerald Correctional Mgt.
