Richmond deputy sheriffs fired for sexual contact with prisoners www.privateofficer.com
Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. confirmed Monday that he has fired two of his deputies for having “inappropriate conduct” with two female inmates of the City Jail.
The deputies, who were not identified, were terminated Sept. 20 after an investigation of about three weeks, Woody said.
The matter was investigated by the Richmond Sheriff’s Office internal affairs division, Woody said, and the results were turned over to the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for review.
One of the deputies was a new hire and had been on the job about six months, Woody said. The other had worked some time as a circuit court bailiff before resigning and then being rehired as a jail deputy, Woody said.
Woody said the sexual contact involved different female inmates and that both have been transferred to other facilities.
Reached at home, Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland said the city’s prosecutor’s office plans to seek indictments against the two deputies for having “inappropriate sexual contact.”
The case could be presented to a Richmond grand jury as early as Oct. 3.
The Richmond Sheriff’s Office has a policy that forbids any member of the department “from making personal contacts, or engag(ing) in personal relationships, with residents or former residents” of the jail. The term resident refers to “offenders and former offenders” incarcerated at the jail.
“Any contact that is required shall be conducted in a professional manner,” the policy states.
The policy, provided by the department, spells out 19 activities that are restricted between department employees and inmates, former inmates, their family members or close associates “for a period of no less than 180 days after the release of the resident.”
The prohibited activities include engaging in a personal relationship with an inmate.
“It is the policy of the Richmond Sheriff’s Office to prohibit employees from socializing, engaging in romantic relationships, sexual acts or sexual contact with residents or former residents on or off duty,” the policy says.
Source:Richmond Daily Times
