Gov. David A. Paterson needs to exercise his constitutional power to remove the sheriff and appoint a replacement who can clean up this mess. - The Buffalo News 5/24/10
Repeated escapes that have led to the murder of a state trooper. Suicides at five times the national rate. Violent beating administered regularly. Rapes of inmates by guards. This is the situation in Erie County's two prisons under Sheriff Howard.
Despite damning reports issued by every level of government, including the County Comptroller, the NYS Commission on Corrections, and US Department of Justice, Sheriff Howard insists that nothing is wrong and that any claim to the contrary is the result of a political witch hunt. For what reason people would hunt him, he can't specify, but he's sure its a witch hunt.
Even people awaiting trial are being abused:
People not adjudged guilty of anything have been mistreated, denied basic hygienic and human needs, kept from their medications and, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, been the victim of violent beatings administered either by jail personnel or other inmates.
So much of the presumption of innocence.
Even The Buffalo News is through with this man:
The report was not political. And the public ought to be alarmed.
As the commission found, it was not one oversight that allowed [escapee] Brian Collins, previously convicted of violent crimes and known to be an escape risk, to get dangerously close to freedom. It was a series of goof-ups and acts of horrific negligence that suggest a systemic failure on the part of jail management. Doors left unlocked. Other doors opened by remote control by people who did not know or, seemingly, care who they were talking to. Radios left unattended.
Dear Governor Paterson:
This is a statewide problem. When Ralph "Bucky" Philips escaped, he left Erie County and murdered a State Trooper in another part of the state. You have the power to remove this man and replace him. I don't care if you replace him with a Democrat. I don't care if you replace him with another Republican (just please not his under-sheriff). But you need to Fire Everyone and allow the people of Western New York a fresh start with a new Sheriff. Before another convicted murderer escapes and kills another brave cop. |
