Inside the Idaho Hospital Ambush: A Female CO Speaks for the First Time

We trace Tasha’s path from academy to maximum custody and unpack the widening gap between policy and reality inside Idaho prisons. Gangs, mental health crises, staffing failures, and a hospital ambush reveal how leadership and language shifts can’t replace basic security.

• why she chose corrections as a path to law enforcement
• academy training limits and POST-certified expectations
• pro-social language shift and blurred boundaries
• staffing shortages, broken schedules, and safety risks
• prison layout, death row protocols, and the bubble
• gangs in Idaho and assaults on staff as initiation
• C Block dynamics, self-harm, and suicide attempts
• death row fence incident and delayed clearances
• hospital ambush, manhunt timeline, and injuries
• retaliation after reporting PREA and medical issues
• turnover, weak leadership, and messy log controls
• contraband, overtime strain, and culture problems
• resignation in lieu, POST investigation, and fallout
• practical advice for new officers on policy and documentation

Love you. Keep pushing forward.

Transcript

Meet Tasha, Idaho CO

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome back to our channels, Warriors. We are still growing today another special guest drove all the way from the state of Idaho. We have a former female correctional officer from the Cal I the Idaho Department of Corrections by the name of Tasha. What up?

SPEAKER_06 0:20

Hector Bravo.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

On it's now in section.

SPEAKER_08 0:30

Hey.

SPEAKER_02 0:31

Thanks for making that long. How many hours?

SPEAKER_08 0:33

Uh it was 13. 13 hours.

SPEAKER_02 0:36

Oh my goodness, man. And you said, oh, I don't want to say what you said, but you're like, hey, I believe in what you do.

SPEAKER_08 0:41

Yes. I I drove down because I've been following you for a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 0:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 0:46

And I I believe exactly what you've been saying.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

So thank you. I appreciate that. And we're going to dive into that because let me ask you off the top, have you noticed similarities between the departments?

SPEAKER_08 0:58

Uh quite a bit. Quite a bit.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

SPEAKER_08 1:02

Um gosh. In my place, probably a bad thing.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Correct, correct. So what attracted you to the job?

SPEAKER_08 1:14

Um, so I started with the department because I really wanted to be a law a law enforcement officer.

SPEAKER_03 1:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 1:24

Um that was kind of my leeway before jumping straight onto patrol in the streets. Um, and I felt like it would be beneficial learning kind of how inmates act, and that's kind of it's why I started. Um, I wanted also to honestly

Why She Chose Corrections

SPEAKER_08 1:45

help people.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

So in Idaho, is that a path that people can take and normally take corrections to the patrol?

SPEAKER_08 1:52

Yes. Um, quite a few actually do it. Um, they start within the Department of Corrections and then do about two years. Um, they have the ability to do probation and parole. Um, but most end up going into patrolling.

SPEAKER_02 2:08

So Idaho. Idaho. I get Idaho mixed up with Iowa. Ohio, but I hear what you're saying. Idaho. But you're not originally from there.

SPEAKER_08 2:19

No. I'm originally from Washington State. I grew up in the evergreen state, so a lot of rain. Yeah, a lot of rain. Yeah. And really hot summers.

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Hot summers? Yes. How hot? Well, not Arizona hot, but that's kind of what I'm used to. 120 and it sucks.

SPEAKER_08 2:36

No, I think probably the highest I've ever encountered was like 110.

SPEAKER_02 2:42

That's still pretty bad. Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 2:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 2:44

And how long were you in Idaho before you started working for the Department of Corrections?

SPEAKER_08 2:48

Um, I started. Well, I moved here back in 2020. So it was about three years before I jumped into corrections.

SPEAKER_02 2:58

Wait a minute. So you new state, new job? Yeah. That's interesting.

SPEAKER_08 3:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 3:03

What was the driving force behind that? Law enforcement, or like was it money? Was it incentives?

SPEAKER_08 3:10

Oh, well, there's a lot of I mean, I went through a divorce. So um I kind of knew that I needed to jump back into the workforce. Um, but since like I want to say middle school, whenever we did our work um career day. Yeah, career day. Uh an officer had come and kind of spoke, and it's always been my passion. So all through high school, I just didn't jump onto the bandwagon.

SPEAKER_02 3:46

Up until that point, what have you known had you known, if anything, from like movies or documentaries, or it was just a roll of a dice for you?

SPEAKER_08 3:55

Honestly, it was a roll of a it was a roll of a dice. Um, I knew there was gonna be highs and lows. Uh-huh. Um, I knew that I mean, good bad good days and bad days, but there wasn't like, oh, the same thing happens every day. So I knew there was gonna be it I knew it was gonna be hectic.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

So do you know approximately how many prisons are in Idaho?

SPEAKER_08 4:29

We uh we have CRCs. Um so those are your re-entry centers. Um

Idaho Pathways And Academy

SPEAKER_08 4:40

and I know just the past year more were approved in the making. So I couldn't tell you at the top of my head how many there are, but there are at least three big facilities.

SPEAKER_02 4:57

And once you become become, once you become a correction officer, are you able to transfer to any institution institution? What up, boys? Please to announce a new clothing line that I have just dropped, Unhinged Supply. I'll be rolling stuff out in limited drops, so stay tuned for that. Make sure you go to the website, HectorBravoshow.com, and pick up the latest gear. Love you. Keep pushing forward.

SPEAKER_06 5:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 5:20

So you are? Yep. So similar to California.

SPEAKER_06 5:22

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 5:22

And it's post-certified, you mentioned?

SPEAKER_06 5:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 5:26

So peace officers sworn in, because I'm pretty sure not all states are sworn peace officers. Yep. But Idaho is. Yep. That's good.

SPEAKER_08 5:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:37

I mean, a lot of perks with that.

SPEAKER_08 5:39

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_02 5:40

Yeah, I mean, you get the peace officer powers. Yes. Um, and I'm sure the bump up in pay is different than not being sworn.

SPEAKER_08 5:48

Yep. Very much.

SPEAKER_02 5:50

So you went to an academy? Yes. What was that like?

SPEAKER_08 5:53

Um gosh, it was a lot of uh slideshows. So not that's horrible. So not too much hands-on. We had our you know, Archon days, um, and those were like two to three days, and then we did scenarios, so kind of what would happen um at the prison. So we role-played those, yeah, but not too much hands-on.

SPEAKER_02 6:23

What did the facility look like? Was it like a college campus, like a prison?

SPEAKER_08 6:27

So it's I was the first class on in the new building. So very much it was like a classroom. And then we had like a gym area.

SPEAKER_02 6:42

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 6:44

For the Archon days.

SPEAKER_02 6:45

Who were the instructors, like peace officers, like guards? No. What do you mean?

SPEAKER_08 6:50

They were well, actually a few of them are, but the ones that specifically did Archon were mainly just Archon instructors and firearm instructors.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

What does Archon stand for? Uh is it like the re what what is that referring to? Is that like the hand-to-hand combat or like reality-based riot control?

SPEAKER_08 7:16

Um, it's the same. Oh, it's combatatives.

SPEAKER_02 7:19

Yeah, so that would make sense that the instructors would be had that background.

SPEAKER_08 7:23

Yep. Um, and then there are sergeants that were a part of the training as well.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

Was there a lot of cadet students in the classroom?

SPEAKER_08 7:36

Um my class was about 25.

SPEAKER_02 7:40

That's fairly small.

SPEAKER_08 7:42

Yeah. They max at about 25 to I think 32, maybe.

SPEAKER_02 7:49

Is a Department of Corrections in Idaho something that's like always hiring? Or they always have a need for officers?

SPEAKER_08 7:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 7:55

Why? Is it a high turnaround rate or is it just expanding?

SPEAKER_08 7:59

Um, I want to say it's a high turnover rate. They can't keep them.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

They can't keep them? They can't keep them. And before we jump forward, right off the top of your head, looking back in hindsight, what is the reason they can't keep them? Keeping it real?

SPEAKER_08 8:14

I really want to say that it's based off of accountability, and you've got like the good boys club. And if you're not part of that, it's funny.

SPEAKER_02 8:27

You're gonna be used. You're gonna be used like a pawn? Very much or like a puppet, or both.

SPEAKER_05 8:34

Both.

Pro-Social Policy Shift

SPEAKER_05 8:36

Both.

SPEAKER_02 8:40

So you're here at this academ how how what is the length of this academy?

SPEAKER_08 8:44

It's about a month. You do about three weeks of in-classroom, and then you do about a week worth of archon.

SPEAKER_02 8:57

And what kind of stuff are you learning academically? Like laws?

SPEAKER_08 9:01

Some of the laws. Um and then the other ones are basically policies. And obviously, PRIA is a big one. Um, those are about the big ones.

SPEAKER_02 9:21

Well, for those that are watching and don't know what PRIA is, Prison Rape Elimination Act. And considering it's a federal act, yeah, it would make sense that it would also be in Idaho. Um dude, I had a good question right now before you said a Priya. What year did you go?

SPEAKER_08 9:37

Uh to the Academy?

SPEAKER_02 9:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 9:39

It was back in 24.

SPEAKER_02 9:41

Okay, so 24. So I know you reading some of your notes, you were like, hey, some of these like progressive changes and change in culture uh sim similar to California.

SPEAKER_06 9:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

Were they were they also trying to push an agenda to be like you said hug-a-thug mentality?

SPEAKER_08 10:00

Yes, hug-a-thug.

SPEAKER_02 10:02

Did that start at the academy?

SPEAKER_08 10:04

Yes. No, it didn't. Yes, and I wanna say it was probably like right up until I started. So maybe a couple months prior to starting, and this was back in 23. On I joined in August. Right, yeah. So they were into the pro-social and what is that? That is it's basically like I'm your best friend, but in a professional manner.

SPEAKER_02 10:37

So pro-social.

SPEAKER_08 10:38

Pro social is what they called it.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Is it short for something like professional social work or some bullshit like that?

SPEAKER_08 10:44

Right. But yeah, that's what I would sum it up as.

SPEAKER_02 10:49

Okay, because you know, when these assholes, excuse my language, at the top, they come up with shenanigans, right? And then they come up with these stupid names like incarcerated persons or and this pro-social is a terminology being used in Idaho?

SPEAKER_08 11:03

Yes. We went from obviously inmates or residents. Um, but the the most recent is resident. We have to call them residents.

SPEAKER_02 11:12

Now, realistically, it's not that we look down upon inmates or that we want them to suffer or have consequences, but we're realists, right? It's like, hey, this place is out of control because you made it out of control, and simply changing some terms around is not gonna solve anything. Right. Right. In case people aren't grasping, you know, like, hey, these people just want to watch the inmates suffer. That's not the reality of things. Right. So as you're being told to uh what are you being told? That these inmates are in here for b victims, or they're going through mental health struggles, you need to understand what's going what they're going through.

SPEAKER_08 11:51

No, it is obviously they committed a crime.

SPEAKER_02 11:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 11:55

So that I agreed with. Um and but we need to treat them with respect.

SPEAKER_02 12:02

Well, that's fair.

SPEAKER_08 12:04

Which is yeah, which is very fair. Yeah. Um but it is like very much like uh try and be personal in a sense with them.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

That's a problem.

SPEAKER_08 12:19

Yeah. Very much.

SPEAKER_02 12:22

Because there's a clear line in the sand, or there should be a clear line between officer and inmate.

SPEAKER_08 12:28

Oh, a hundred percent.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

And we saw here in California what happens when you blur that line.

SPEAKER_08 12:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 12:38

Do you rec uh do you recall

Staffing Gaps And Safety Risks

SPEAKER_02 12:40

what your peers were they enjoying with the what they were being taught, or were they like, oh, this is bullshit? Or you were too new to understand what was going what was about to happen.

SPEAKER_08 12:50

Oh no, I knew like my second week.

SPEAKER_02 12:52

What did you know?

SPEAKER_08 12:55

How unorganized it was, how poorly ran it was. Um, definitely an agenda.

SPEAKER_02 13:06

What were some things that were like like what scheduling issues, hiring issues?

SPEAKER_08 13:10

Very much scheduling was throughout my two years was an issue.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

Give me some examples.

SPEAKER_08 13:18

I mean, like within our um post orders, you're supposed to have probably about three to four in a GP unit officers on floor. And there would be two. One would be running the bubble. So anytime you had emergencies, you'd lose one. And then there would be situations where there's like double emergencies. And then I mean, I'm a female, so yes, I got respect, but I mean, I'm gambling with my life.

SPEAKER_02 13:54

100%. 100%. So you graduate at what is a facility? Would you mind saying what facility? What does this look like? This prison.

SPEAKER_08 14:04

Um, so I graduated and I was, I mean, I requested because I felt more safe at the maximum facility where they were behind doors. Um, but within this facility, aside from like your GP unit, they're out a few times a day. All the other facilit or all other units are out one hour. So you're housing your cell for 23 hours a day.

SPEAKER_02 14:36

That's very interesting. Was this prison that you requested was that closest to your residence, or did you have to move? Did you relocate for the job at all?

SPEAKER_08 14:50

No, I didn't relocate. I I mean from like my location, it was probably about 30 minutes to get there. Okay. So, um, but I didn't relocate.

SPEAKER_02 15:05

How many staff members would you say are assigned to that institution?

SPEAKER_08 15:10

There's about three in every unit. We have four to five units. So about twenty. But I'd say maybe twelve.

SPEAKER_02 15:32

And and twenty-four-seven operations?

SPEAKER_08 15:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 15:37

That makes w it almost seems like a skeleton crew.

SPEAKER_08 15:40

A hundred percent.

SPEAKER_02 15:44

How many inmates per prison like that? That prison.

SPEAKER_08 15:49

So we have medium custody, which is like a yard. Um, they have way more staff. That's obviously more of your um you're out all the time. You got chow time and all of that. So um I don't know how many would be scheduled on their shift, but like in my facility, the

Prison Layout And Populations

SPEAKER_08 16:20

ratio is I mean, we were always at like 500. 500 inmates.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 16:29

So you had about a hundred, a hundred and fifteen. Obviously, GP unit, it would be more um in a unit.

SPEAKER_02 16:40

Now these inmates, um what are their what are the ranges of crimes that they're in there for?

SPEAKER_08 16:50

Um, some petty, some drug-related.

SPEAKER_02 16:53

Petty like what? Like like like shoplifting? Yes.

SPEAKER_08 16:57

Yes. Um kind of fraud um all the way up to murder.

SPEAKER_02 17:04

Murder. And how many of those guys would you say there are? The reason I'm asking, I'm trying to compare, like, I'm trying to see how California and Idaho differ or relate.

SPEAKER_08 17:15

I would say there's a lot.

SPEAKER_02 17:20

There's a lot of murderers in Idaho?

SPEAKER_08 17:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:23

Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_08 17:24

I I couldn't even give you a number. I know specifically the unit that I was posted at.

SPEAKER_05 17:30

I had I mean, I had like eight.

SPEAKER_08 17:38

And specifically like on death row.

SPEAKER_02 17:42

And are you as an employee able to view what they're in for and it maybe even their police report? Yes. How?

SPEAKER_08 17:51

Um, through our system. Through a computer system? Through a computer system.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

And is a computer system at your desk at the location? Yes. Or do you have to go to like a place, like an office?

SPEAKER_08 18:02

No. So with our facility, we have a bubble. That is where all the staff get to hang out at. It's not open dorm.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

So is there a gun in the bubble? No. Is the bubble elevated or floor level?

SPEAKER_08 18:18

Elevated.

SPEAKER_02 18:20

Is it a secured bubble?

SPEAKER_08 18:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:22

No inmates are allowed in the bubble.

unknown 18:24

No.

SPEAKER_02 18:25

In the history of Idaho prisons, has there ever accidentally let an inmate in the bubble?

SPEAKER_06 18:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:31

It's funny how all of this works. During the time you were there or like folk tales or like legends that you've heard?

SPEAKER_08 18:37

Um before. Before I was there.

SPEAKER_02 18:40

Is that a huge security protocol?

SPEAKER_08 18:44

I want to say yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:45

What do you do? You tell them, hey, get the hell out. Because I mean, in California, that would become a deadly situation because you have guns up there. Um what would an inmate in a Idaho bubble be capable of doing? Opening and closing doors?

SPEAKER_08 19:00

Yes. Yeah, exactly that. Or assault.

SPEAKER_02 19:05

Yeah, that's not good.

SPEAKER_08 19:07

No. Nope.

SPEAKER_02 19:11

So did you ever look up inmates' crimes?

SPEAKER_06 19:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:17

Is there anything particular that sent out to you where you're just like, oh my God.

SPEAKER_05 19:24

You know, honestly.

SPEAKER_08 19:29

That's a hard question to answer, but honestly, no. Nothing really stood out to me. I felt they were all similar.

SPEAKER_02 19:39

Similar, like how?

SPEAKER_08 19:41

Um, same kind of characteristics, maybe same kind of upbringing, maybe different upbringings. Um but it was like one way, and then there was another way. So you could have an inmate that had a normal life that just chose a bad path, and then you had the Opposite side of not a great upbringing, didn't have parents around, and

Gangs, Rules, And Assaults

SPEAKER_08 20:10

they chose that path.

SPEAKER_03 20:12

Right.

SPEAKER_08 20:12

You know. So I wouldn't say there was anything in particular that stood out. Um to me, it read pretty close to similar.

SPEAKER_02 20:24

And I bring that up because again, like I can only go off of my experience, right? So I'm trying to figure out like, okay, how does Idaho work?

SPEAKER_04 20:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:32

And there was an inmate in California in a in a psych ward. He ended up killing a nurse there at the psych ward and then stuffing duck poop down her throat. I guess there was like ducks around, so he was putting them. They found so I'm like, did you ever read anything where, like, oh fuck, that'll stick with you? And you recall that. Or these people just offing other gang members, or who are they killing?

SPEAKER_08 20:57

Gang members.

SPEAKER_02 20:58

So there's gangs in Idaho.

SPEAKER_08 21:00

100%.

SPEAKER_02 21:02

What kind of gangs?

SPEAKER_08 21:03

Um, you have your Nortanios, you have your Seranios.

SPEAKER_02 21:08

There's no way.

SPEAKER_08 21:09

We have Seranos.

SPEAKER_02 21:11

No way.

SPEAKER_08 21:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:12

So that's who's in the prisons? Yes. I'm assuming, I mean, you're telling me Idaho, I'm thinking like just white guys.

SPEAKER_08 21:19

We have our AKs.

SPEAKER_02 21:21

What are AKs?

SPEAKER_08 21:22

Area knights.

SPEAKER_02 21:24

Aryan knights. Yep. Yeah. In my head, you see, I thought all of Idaho was white inmates.

SPEAKER_08 21:29

I want to say the population's more serenos.

SPEAKER_02 21:33

Mexican. Hispanic.

SPEAKER_08 21:34

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 21:36

How do these Serenos function? Do they try to emulate California? Are they doing their own thing? Do they have rules? Do they have shock collars?

SPEAKER_08 21:43

They have rules and they do have shock collars.

SPEAKER_02 21:47

How do those rules function? Like what are they do they leave the staff alone? Are they respectful?

SPEAKER_08 21:54

So I want to say they leave staff alone for the most part, unless they have someone who's being jumped in, which then they obviously have to conduct their assault on staff.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

Run that by me again. What do you mean by that? An initiation to get into the Sureeno gang prison in um in an Idaho prison is to assault staff?

SPEAKER_06 22:20

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 22:29

Is there any repercussion for an inmate assaulting staff in Idaho?

SPEAKER_08 22:37

Oh, you know, depends on if that staff member wants to press charges.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

Well, not really what I was referring to. In terms of is that inmate gonna regret putting hands on a cop or he's not gonna regret it?

SPEAKER_05 22:56

No.

SPEAKER_02 22:57

He's not?

SPEAKER_05 22:57

No.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

Oh hell no. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 23:00

No.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

I mean, I'm not here to say we're here to teach lessons, but that is one lesson you learn the hard way.

SPEAKER_08 23:07

Yeah. And I do want to say that it's more geared towards like male officers.

SPEAKER_02 23:14

Of course. I mean, I would hope so. I'm gonna hopefully they're not putting hands on female staff members. Nope. Are there assaults on female staff members at that institution?

SPEAKER_06 23:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 23:24

And is that usually like are the women disrespecting or are these inmates out of control, or what usually stems or do they vary?

SPEAKER_08 23:33

I want to say a little bit of both. So sometimes intoxication um can lead to that. And disrespect.

SPEAKER_02 23:43

How do they get intoxicated?

SPEAKER_08 23:45

Oh, they make their own.

SPEAKER_02 23:46

Did you ever come across that?

SPEAKER_08 23:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:49

And where did they put it?

SPEAKER_08 23:52

Bottles. Um in a container. I mean they hide it. Um toilet. So yep.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

What do their cells look like? Two men per cell or is it numerous?

SPEAKER_08 24:12

So it depends on the unit. Um our GP unit has two per cell. In a we have a unit called the C block, which is your acute mental health

Mental Health And C Block

SPEAKER_08 24:30

unit. Um on your first tier, it's a two-cell. Um two per cell. And then the other tiers, so two and three, are your single. In the unit that I was posted at, your GP unit, or I mean your GP tier, which is your first tier, was a two per one cell. And then tiers two and three. Tiers two is your death row, and tier three is like you're in the hole.

SPEAKER_02 25:02

There's a mental health portion of the prison?

SPEAKER_08 25:05

Yes, there is.

SPEAKER_02 25:06

Now I know you're not a psychologist, but if you had to make an assessment, would you say they're crazy or bullshitting?

SPEAKER_08 25:19

If I had to make an assessment, I would say that there are a good amount of mental health.

SPEAKER_02 25:25

Really? Wow. Because I'm here in California, it's all the whole thing, it's like a sham. It's a fraud.

SPEAKER_08 25:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:31

They manipulate the system. Yes. Probably maybe a good 75% are fake in it.

SPEAKER_08 25:37

Yeah. I do see that. I do see that in like a couple of the units. Um, but a lot of them are mentally ill.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

Wow, that's freaking nuts. Yeah. And what does that um unit consist of? They get medication, they get do they get like special privileges, classes, they groups.

SPEAKER_08 25:59

So with that unit, they do get more incentives. Um basically they have a chart, and within that chart, it kind of puts them on a certain level of what they get to have. When I started, they were able to have like coffee. And that was one of their like biggest incentives. Is if I obviously keep up with my hygiene, maintain my cell in like a good condition, yeah. They were able to.

SPEAKER_02 26:32

Do they self-mutilate that you know of? Yes. They do?

SPEAKER_08 26:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

Any suicide attempts or suicide that you came across? Yes. What was that like?

SPEAKER_08 26:44

Um, there's a lot of them that attempt um mainly just by hanging. There's been a few in my unit that will cut themselves completely open and bleed out, and your cell is covered in blood.

SPEAKER_02 27:06

What do you what do you where do they cut their wrists?

SPEAKER_08 27:08

Their wrists, their stomach.

SPEAKER_02 27:12

Oh, that's so funny. That's disgusting.

SPEAKER_08 27:14

Yep. Um, we had a couple that were um your transition.

SPEAKER_02 27:25

Hold on. Transgenders? Yes. What portion were they they were a man? Yes. They were a man. Yes. And what were they doing that was about to happen? I mean, were they just were they saying, hey, call or they were gonna cut it off? Yep. And then what happens once they get to cut off? They have to go to a woman's institution? No. Or they stay at a men's institution?

SPEAKER_08 27:50

They stay in a men's institution. There's been a few times with uh a couple of them that will try and attempt to cut it off and then hospital and then sent back.

SPEAKER_02 28:01

Oh, fuck. How many of those? Like a lot or just like a handful?

SPEAKER_08 28:08

There's a handful. I'd say probably a good maybe eight that I know of within my facility that I've done within your facility.

SPEAKER_02 28:21

And were they like popular amongst the guards? Like, oh hey, inmate Sally is up to her bullshit again, chopped off her weenie again. Or is it kind of just like eh, like whatever?

SPEAKER_08 28:33

They were they were popular.

SPEAKER_02 28:35

They were popular?

SPEAKER_08 28:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:36

Oh another question. Were they popular amongst the inmates?

SPEAKER_08 28:41

No.

SPEAKER_02 28:42

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_08 28:43

I except for maybe your men that swing that way?

SPEAKER_02 28:53

Correct. But oh, they fucking love them here.

SPEAKER_08 28:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:56

I mean, they'll cry over them, they'll make out with them on the yard, leave them hickeys. They love them.

SPEAKER_08 29:02

Yeah, well, we didn't see, like, I say I didn't see much of that unless I was in your C block unit.

SPEAKER_02 29:09

C block.

SPEAKER_08 29:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:10

Yeah, well, that's what I'm getting at. Like, again, again, I have no idea. I'm asking you to walk me through and show me how fucked up that place is, right? Like, so C block is wild.

SPEAKER_08 29:20

Yeah. I would say there's more of transgender in that unit than any other unit.

SPEAKER_02 29:28

And and what kind of things happen in that unit? Fights?

SPEAKER_08 29:32

It's a lot. Um, fights are one of them. Um, there's one that went up on like the red cages, hung out out there, didn't want to come down.

SPEAKER_02 29:46

What do the red cages look like?

SPEAKER_08 29:48

They are your mesh normal like a dog cannel?

SPEAKER_02 29:54

Yeah. So like the California dog cannel yards.

SPEAKER_08 29:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 29:57

And then somehow, somehow, this dude got up on top.

SPEAKER_08 29:59

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

How?

Security Lapses And Death Row Scare

SPEAKER_02 30:00

Aren't they supposed to be escorted by an officer?

SPEAKER_08 30:02

No, not in that unit.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

So, how does it work in that unit?

SPEAKER_08 30:05

So in C block, your tier one, which is your GP unit, they get escorted out normal. Um, no restraints. Your tiers two and three get to go in different groups. So they have a schedule where like specifically tier two gets to go out. Um, no restraints.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

Now, this person made their way to the top of the cages. And when what happens then? Is it like an alarm? Do people say like, hey, hello?

SPEAKER_08 30:43

They try and de-escalate it first. And then it kind of becomes a non-emergency emergency.

SPEAKER_02 30:53

That's similar to California.

SPEAKER_08 30:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 30:55

When it should be an emergency right off the top. Right. Yep. So they when you say de-escalate, they're like, hey, Billy, come down here.

SPEAKER_06 31:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 31:04

And Billy's like, I'm not coming down here.

SPEAKER_06 31:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 31:07

Yes, Billy, please come down here. Yep. And how long can a duration like this last?

SPEAKER_08 31:15

I want to say that they try and conduct that in as little time as they possibly can. So um it's it varies. Um, depends on in that specific situation. I want to say they probably try to de-escalate it in a good 10-15 minutes.

SPEAKER_02 31:38

You mentioned an escape attempt from the death row in me. Yes. What was that about?

SPEAKER_08 31:42

So that was one of the days that I had no staff in that unit. Um, and there were two emergencies that were being um cleared. So with that, again, I had no staff. And there were several occasions where, you know, you call up to the control. Um, and control tries to get clearance from your ASC, and ASC says, hold off, hold off. So as there's movements going on, especially when it comes to your A block, which is your GP unit, they get out to the rec yard in the ball field. So with that, they can't conduct death row with a block. So you have to wait for clearance. And it was a long period of time for clearance to be made before we could escort that death row inmate back. And they got tired of waiting. So they tried to climb up the fence.

SPEAKER_02 33:07

Who tried to climb up the fence?

SPEAKER_08 33:08

Death row. It was just one inmate.

SPEAKER_02 33:12

What's at the top of the fence? Concertina wire, razor wire, barbed wire?

SPEAKER_08 33:18

Nah, um barbed wire.

SPEAKER_02 33:21

And what happened, what what happened as he's climbing up the fence?

SPEAKER_08 33:25

Nothing. Nothing at all. He I want to say stopped and then was escorted.

SPEAKER_02 33:39

So um Do you guys have gun towers there?

SPEAKER_08 33:43

No.

SPEAKER_02 33:44

In the whole entire prison, there's no gun towers.

SPEAKER_08 33:47

In our at our the yard is what we call it. Um, they have gun towers.

SPEAKER_02 33:57

And what kind of weapon system do they have up there?

Hospital Ambush And Escape

SPEAKER_08 34:00

Your normal. Your um your shotgun.

SPEAKER_02 34:09

Did you ever work a gun post? Nope. No?

SPEAKER_08 34:12

Nope. I stayed at maximum for the two years that I was employed. So with that, the only person that has the ability to have a weapon is our control center. And unless we're conducting like a transport, that's about the only time.

SPEAKER_02 34:38

How often do transports go out there?

SPEAKER_08 34:41

Quite a few. There would be at least an emergency to the hospital. Like once a night, maybe twice a night.

SPEAKER_02 34:52

And what happens? Uh an ambulance comes into the institution and picks them up?

SPEAKER_08 34:56

Yep. And then we have two to three that go.

SPEAKER_02 35:04

Two to three staff members? Yes. Armed or not armed?

SPEAKER_05 35:09

Only one is armed.

SPEAKER_02 35:21

What ended up happening? You said you started to get retaliated against? Yes. How did that play out?

SPEAKER_08 35:29

Oh obviously not good.

SPEAKER_02 35:32

I know, but like how did it begin? What were some of the process that they put you through?

SPEAKER_08 35:37

So I got retaliated every time I brought up any type of like medical or a Priya. Um in terms of like retaliation. There was a lot of times like when we would do bidding, um, I would like court ordered, I was supposed to be on day shift, but I would get denied every time. So I would do nights. Um, but then there would be officers that would be more liked that would be able to switch.

SPEAKER_02 36:19

Male or female?

SPEAKER_08 36:20

Female.

SPEAKER_02 36:21

No way.

SPEAKER_08 36:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:23

Were there a lot of females there?

SPEAKER_08 36:26

Not a lot. Um I'd say probably at least five.

SPEAKER_02 36:33

Did they have more time than you working there?

SPEAKER_08 36:36

Just a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 36:37

But they were being favored over you by who? By the supervisor?

SPEAKER_08 36:43

By the captain.

SPEAKER_02 36:45

What is the rank system in the Idaho Department of Corrections?

SPEAKER_08 36:48

So we have a captain, and then you have a lieutenant and a sergeant on shift. Um, you have a deputy warden and a warden. And that's the system.

SPEAKER_02 37:04

And what are the regular officers called at the bottom?

SPEAKER_08 37:07

We're just officers.

SPEAKER_02 37:08

Officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain. And these females were officers. They were officers. Who were they getting prepared preferential treatment from?

SPEAKER_08 37:18

I'd say the captain. The captain. Unless you knew the lieutenant really well, depending on what shift. Um you had a little bit better chance of getting whatever you're asking for.

SPEAKER_02 37:36

Now, are there some better spots or days or shifts that are better than others? Like what would be a pristine spot?

SPEAKER_08 37:45

I'd say probably your A card. What is it? A days. And that was Sunday through Wednesday and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

SPEAKER_02 37:59

6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yep. So you well, holy shit. Wait a minute. There are 12-hour shifts in Idaho?

SPEAKER_08 38:05

We're 12-hour shifts.

SPEAKER_02 38:07

Oh, I didn't even know that. Oh, I didn't even know that.

SPEAKER_08 38:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 38:11

So holy shit, 12-hour shifts. How many days are you allowed to work in a row?

SPEAKER_05 38:20

You uh four days.

SPEAKER_02 38:23

You're allowed to work four 12-hour shifts. Yep. And then what? You get given three days off? Yes.

unknown 38:30

What the heck?

SPEAKER_08 38:31

So with like my schedule, I was night. I was the night card on a day or on night. I was the eight card on nights. Um, so that was Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and like every other Saturday was my shift. So I worked into Wednesday morning. If that makes sense.

SPEAKER_02 38:55

So what's your what was your shift? 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

SPEAKER_06 38:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 38:59

Oh hell no. Yeah. What a oh no, that just fucking sucks. Like, yeah. Because you see them in the evening and they're like winding down. 100%. Now all the incidents probably happen around that time. Yep. Oof. What kind of shit do you deal with at that time of the night? Evenings.

SPEAKER_08 39:19

Your suicides.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_08 39:23

Um, especially in your seg units. That happened a couple of times. Um, there was one that happened when I first started. Um he hung himself.

Manhunt Aftermath And Injuries

SPEAKER_08 39:41

Um in my unit.

SPEAKER_02 39:45

So in your unit, did you respond?

SPEAKER_08 39:48

I didn't respond because it was the day that I was coming back. So it happened the night that I was coming back.

SPEAKER_02 39:56

Did you know that in me? Yes. The older or younger?

SPEAKER_08 40:00

Mid.

SPEAKER_02 40:01

Did he leave a note?

SPEAKER_08 40:03

No.

SPEAKER_02 40:04

No? He just said, fuck it, I'm checking out. Today's the day I parole.

SPEAKER_08 40:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:08

You don't tell me what to do. I'll tell you what I'm gonna parole.

SPEAKER_08 40:10

Yeah, the the biggest, I'd say, like, takeaway from that was, you know, you look at cues and you under you go through the academy understanding like cues. So obviously an inmate that's giving away all their stuff probably would be a cue that something was going to happen. Um and that's what ended up happening with that.

SPEAKER_01 40:36

Was he a lifer?

SPEAKER_05 40:39

Oh gosh. I don't I didn't I don't know.

SPEAKER_08 40:45

Um that one I didn't look up.

SPEAKER_02 40:49

So I'm assuming in the night shift there's even less officers than on the day shift. Yes. Do you guys all stick together and work together and communicate together, or are you guys kind of just doing your own thing?

SPEAKER_08 41:04

It's since I like the when I first started, I want to say that there was a bit more communication um towards the end of my employment. I'd say probably less.

SPEAKER_06 41:22

Less? Yes.

SPEAKER_08 41:25

It was really difficult to hear. I mean, we get the play by play of like what happened that night. Yeah. But in terms of like, hey, this is kind of what we need to see happening, there wasn't a lot.

SPEAKER_02 41:39

So no guidance.

SPEAKER_08 41:40

No guidance.

SPEAKER_02 41:41

Any leadership, any supervisors giving you direction?

SPEAKER_08 41:45

Um, no. If I'm being completely honest. Yeah, I want you to be completely honest.

SPEAKER_02 41:51

No. Yeah, I don't want you to sugarcoating.

SPEAKER_08 41:54

No. Um, so I my unit sergeant started off being a corporal, wasn't a corporal for very long, and promoted to sergeant. So, really not much experience.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

So the blind leading the blind.

SPEAKER_08 42:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 42:12

Well, similar California. All right, now we're getting somewhere. Um, what is a highest ranking official like at midnight at night time at the prison?

SPEAKER_08 42:24

You would have your lieutenant.

SPEAKER_02 42:26

How many?

SPEAKER_08 42:27

Just one.

SPEAKER_02 42:28

And how is that person? A crusty old bastard? Does he not does he want to be left alone? Um welcoming?

SPEAKER_08 42:35

Depends, actually. There's one that I would say wanted to be closer to officers, um, more buddy buddy. And then you had one that I want to say was newer to being a lieutenant and was just kind of figuring out the ropes because they also had transferred, so it was a brand new facility.

SPEAKER_02 43:05

That makes sense.

SPEAKER_08 43:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:07

Is there an office near you guys?

SPEAKER_08 43:09

No, you have to go up, you have to move out of your unit and go up through the control.

SPEAKER_02 43:20

Um, what about the sergeants on the facility? Are they there?

SPEAKER_08 43:23

Only on days. They would work the hell?

SPEAKER_02 43:28

There's no sergeant in the evening?

SPEAKER_08 43:29

No. How? Why? Monday through Friday. That's their schedule.

SPEAKER_02 43:33

What? That doesn't make any sense to me. No, I don't understand.

SPEAKER_08 43:36

No. When I first started, I want to say that there were at least a couple sergeants that would do like overtime. But that was it.

SPEAKER_02 43:50

And they could do that? Yes. But they do an overtime as a sergeant or as an officer? Can they can the sergeant do overtime as an officer?

SPEAKER_08 43:59

Um, yes.

Leadership Vacuum And Turnover

SPEAKER_02 44:00

They could?

SPEAKER_08 44:01

Yes. They could. I had so even like we were talking about rank. We do also have a corporal. It's kind of like your middleman of who you're supposed to report to. Um, when I first started, they had corporals on both day shift and night shift. And then when we kind of went through a different schedule change, we went to like no corporals on nights. There would be like maybe one or two. And mainly for the purpose of in case the sergeant ever called out um for ASC to like run shift, that corporal was able to run shift.

SPEAKER_02 44:50

Your prison, what is the longest time an employee had working on the job?

SPEAKER_08 44:57

Oh, there's like work-wise, or as in like how long have they worked at that facility? Like for employment? Because there's uh uh I want to say there's like corporals and sergeants that have been there probably for like 20, 25 years.

SPEAKER_02 45:17

20, 25 years. Yes. At that facility.

SPEAKER_08 45:22

Um, I want to say there's I can say one sergeant has been at that specific.

SPEAKER_02 45:31

No, no, no. I guess what I'm asking, what I am asking is what is the highest level of experience total among some of these um employees, which you just said 25, 20 years. Yes. Now, is that a wobbler or is that the consistent? Is that the average?

SPEAKER_08 45:48

No, that is not the average. I want to say, like you said, is the blind leading the blind um experience-wise, like in terms of seniority? There's probably a lieutenant that's only been a lieutenant for like four years in terms of experience and have been like maybe with the department for eight years.

unknown 46:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:15

Okay, okay. Like, in your humble opinion, from your perspective, is it only sheer luck that something fucking drastic and major hasn't happened?

SPEAKER_08 46:26

Oh no, there has been an incident. So it was during my shift. Um, we had an escape inmate.

SPEAKER_02 46:36

Where did he escape to? He left the whole prison?

SPEAKER_08 46:39

No. So he fabricated a medical emergency.

SPEAKER_03 46:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_08 46:44

Which then we had to conduct a medical transport to the hospital, and he escaped the hospital.

SPEAKER_02 46:53

How? He just took off running?

SPEAKER_08 46:56

No. He had a another ex-inmate show up with guns. They shot, yes. They shot four. Well, about three. Three officers. Yeah. We had an accident. You were working? Yes.

SPEAKER_02 47:19

What city was this in?

SPEAKER_08 47:22

This is uh, well what prison? Boise. It was it was Idaho Maximum Security.

SPEAKER_02 47:31

Yeah. In 2024? Yes. Inmate Skylar Meade?

SPEAKER_06 47:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 47:41

In March 2024, a violent incident occurred at a Boise hospital where inmate Skylar Meade was being treated. His accomplice Nicol Uppenhauer ambushed Idaho Department of Correction officers shooting two as Meade escaped during the coordinated attack. These were the Aryan Knights. Yes. Holy shit, man. What was the result of that? What was that? What was the end result? Who died?

SPEAKER_07 48:08

Nobody died. Nobody died. I yeah.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

Doesn't it seem like weird? Like like sheer luck. Nobody died.

SPEAKER_07 48:19

Nobody died.

SPEAKER_02 48:20

Did anybody get shot?

SPEAKER_08 48:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 48:22

Who?

SPEAKER_08 48:23

So I, my partner, um, who I worked with in my unit got

Retaliation, PRIA, And Scheduling

SPEAKER_08 48:30

shot, and then I had another officer that was our um. He was a floater.

SPEAKER_02 48:38

Did any of the bad guys get shot?

SPEAKER_08 48:41

No.

SPEAKER_02 48:42

No.

SPEAKER_08 48:42

No, it was like a couple days worth of they escaped, ran, were on the run, shot and murdered. It's another city in Idaho.

SPEAKER_02 48:58

Okay. What the fuck? Yeah. Dude, I don't even hear I didn't even hear about this in the news over here.

SPEAKER_07 49:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 49:07

Wait. I mean, do you know the circumstances of that day? Because I don't want to read it off the thing. I'd rather you just tell me, like, both officers were shot at the hospital? Yes. Do you know where they were shot in their body?

SPEAKER_08 49:20

Yes. So um one was shot in the stomach area.

SPEAKER_02 49:26

Does it say what type of caliber? A handgun, a rifle, or you don't know what I don't know at the top of my head. Shot him in the stomach.

SPEAKER_08 49:34

Shot him in the stomach. And the other officer was shot in the like butt area and the shoulder.

SPEAKER_02 49:44

Probably as he was running away. No, I just kidding.

SPEAKER_08 49:47

Um, and then there was a third officer that also was there, and um BPD ended up shooting and fragments went into this officer's eye.

SPEAKER_02 50:08

Oh God. Was BPD present?

SPEAKER_08 50:10

BPD presentation.

SPEAKER_02 50:11

The Boise Police Department was present. Yes. And here we're at the hospital. Bam, bang, bang, pow, bam, good old I Idaho shootout. Yes. Was this in the parking lot, in the waiting area, or like in the aisles of the rooms?

SPEAKER_08 50:28

It was um in the parking lot.

SPEAKER_02 50:30

It was in the parking lot. Yep. Was it as soon as they arrived?

SPEAKER_08 50:34

No. Um the turn of events were um they went into the emergency room. Um, they conducted their um requirements to release the said inmate. And within that time, he was combatative and a couple of times during treatment, and then they ended up trying to escort him back because he was released, and within that time frame he got out of his grip, and that ex-inmate had pulled up.

SPEAKER_02 51:33

I'm I'm sure he had been there. I mean, I don't know the situation, but I'm sure he was observing all of this and made his move when he felt was the best time to make his move. Yes. Um and then the dude gets in the in a vehicle, they get in a vehicle and they drive away? Yes. Is there a pursuit or is just uh turns into a manhunt search?

SPEAKER_08 51:52

Manhunt.

SPEAKER_02 51:53

And how many days did this occur for?

SPEAKER_08 51:56

I want to say at least two, three.

SPEAKER_02 51:58

And in the process they killed somebody?

SPEAKER_08 52:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 52:01

Who did they kill?

SPEAKER_08 52:03

A bystander. They needed another vehicle.

SPEAKER_02 52:07

Fuck, they killed somebody for their vehicle.

SPEAKER_08 52:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 52:11

So they took their they killed somebody. Did they ever get captured?

SPEAKER_08 52:14

They did get captured.

SPEAKER_02 52:15

By who? By the U.S. Marshals?

SPEAKER_08 52:17

Um, no, local.

SPEAKER_02 52:19

No way.

SPEAKER_08 52:19

Local PD.

SPEAKER_02 52:20

Where'd they find them? Do you remember? Do you know?

SPEAKER_08 52:22

Um out in the woods. It's a very foresty area.

SPEAKER_02 52:27

And then they get returned to the the custody?

SPEAKER_08 52:30

Yes. Into county, though.

SPEAKER_02 52:33

Why?

SPEAKER_08 52:34

That's their process.

SPEAKER_02 52:36

Now, were you showing up to work while the manhunt was going on? No. Why?

SPEAKER_08 52:42

I was on shift. It was my shift that it ended up happening on.

SPEAKER_02 52:48

So wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. When this shootout, when this shootout happened at the hospital, you were at work.

SPEAKER_08 52:56

I was at work.

SPEAKER_02 52:57

Now, did you get a call on the radio? Hey, lock everybody down?

Overtime, Corruption, And Cover-Ups

SPEAKER_08 53:00

No. So what ended up happening was um my partner, him and I were working, and he was the um designated emergency response guy. That's who we that's the teams that we have. So we were doing normal operations up until there was an emergency in Block, is where that emergency happened, which was your seg unit. Um we heard it. Emergency response was called. He ended up leaving, and in the process, it was messy. Very messy. Medical was messy. Um and from that point they ran to the hospital. So while we were still in normal operations, we still had to like conduct everything. Then we were on lockdown. Um, but during that time frame, um, I was hit with spice. Me and one other officer was hit with spice.

SPEAKER_02 54:18

How did that transpire?

SPEAKER_08 54:24

Through, I don't know how we came across it. Um, it's a very, I want to say a common thing in my unit specifically.

SPEAKER_02 54:33

And we just we were and what what ended up happening?

SPEAKER_08 54:41

I I had to go up to shift command and I had to let them know that I was not feeling good. I couldn't walk, I couldn't see straight, and then they had to send us out to the uh hospital and to make sure we weren't overdosing.

SPEAKER_05 55:03

Um and then we were on lockdown at the hospital because of the manhunt.

SPEAKER_01 55:14

Did they never return those inmates back uh to your guys' institution?

SPEAKER_02 55:18

No. No? No. And then shortly afterwards you stopped working there?

SPEAKER_08 55:24

No, I worked for another, I want to say a year almost.

SPEAKER_02 55:29

And was that an eventful year or anything drastic happened?

SPEAKER_08 55:32

It was an eventful year.

SPEAKER_02 55:34

It was or it was not?

SPEAKER_08 55:35

I I would say it was.

SPEAKER_02 55:36

Like what kind of stuff happened?

SPEAKER_08 55:41

There was just a lot of random schedule changing that they were doing. Um less staff, more assaults, more lockdowns. Um, and then random transfers, out-of-state transfers.

SPEAKER_05 56:02

Um there's a lot of missing pieces, I would say.

SPEAKER_08 56:12

Um in particular, you know, the control officer has to keep a log. Log books are messy. Yeah. And for that month specifically. So there's a lot of like red flags.

SPEAKER_02 56:33

Is that the you think that's a problem plaguing the entire state? Correctional department uh department of corrections?

SPEAKER_08 56:39

I would say so.

SPEAKER_02 56:40

You think they're trying to cover up something?

SPEAKER_08 56:41

I would say so.

SPEAKER_02 56:42

What would be that that they'd be trying to cover up?

SPEAKER_08 56:45

Well, I have been in contact with a prior case manager. Yeah. And there was a situation where an ex-inmate came forward with like the cell phone and how this inmate got a cell phone and tried to report it and it's been dismissed.

SPEAKER_02 57:14

Really?

SPEAKER_08 57:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 57:16

How did he get the cell phone?

SPEAKER_08 57:19

I want to say it was probably from an officer.

SPEAKER_02 57:22

So not only do you guys have limited officers, but now you guys there's corrupt officers there?

SPEAKER_08 57:27

Oh, 100%.

SPEAKER_02 57:28

Oh, there is? Yeah.

POST Threat And Forced Resignation

SPEAKER_02 57:30

What do you think the motivating factor for that? Lack of uh pay?

SPEAKER_08 57:34

I I would say lack of pay.

SPEAKER_02 57:36

Really?

SPEAKER_08 57:38

There's been several incidents where I'm working like an 18-hour shift.

SPEAKER_02 57:43

So but is that overtime?

SPEAKER_08 57:46

That is overtime. Um, when I first started, we did mandatory overtime.

SPEAKER_03 57:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_08 57:52

And then it changed into um you can sign up and volunteer for overtime if you wanted to. And it was opened up to all the facilities at all custody levels, which made things really messy because you had officers that would come from a different facility that didn't know how to run like the computer system to opening doors. And there were several occasions where we had hardwalk eyes come out with soft walk eyes.

SPEAKER_02 58:26

Dang.

SPEAKER_08 58:27

So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 58:28

While you were employed, were there people quitting? Were there COs quitting?

SPEAKER_08 58:32

There were quite a few.

SPEAKER_02 58:34

To move on to bigger and better things, or they just didn't really feel for the job?

SPEAKER_08 58:39

Um, I want to say for better things. But I want to also say lack of leadership as well.

SPEAKER_02 58:47

Was it that evident that there was lack of leadership?

SPEAKER_06 58:50

Uh yes.

SPEAKER_02 58:52

Was it that there was lack of leaders, or was it that they didn't know how to efficiently lead?

SPEAKER_08 58:59

Efficiently lead.

SPEAKER_02 59:01

Would you say they made worse decisions and better decisions? Yes.

SPEAKER_08 59:19

No, I mean, I think one of my kind of bullet points was like how I ended up being on leave. Yeah. Um, which is really kind of I mean it's really shitty. But their system is based off of like a preponderance of evidence. So I don't know if California is kind of the same way.

SPEAKER_02 59:43

Preponderance, yeah, more likely than not.

SPEAKER_08 59:45

Yes. Um 51%. Yes, 51%. And you know, when you start looking at evidence, it can be just a whole bunch of lies. And one thing. can make it substantiated in a sense. So like in my instance, um there was more like, oh, this is all made up. But they sided with the inmate.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:18

Dang. And ultimately were you terminated or were you allowed to resign?

SPEAKER_08 1:00:23

So with that, um I felt more forced. Um like I didn't have an option. And I ended up resigning in lieu. And it was so that way I could get hired on with another agency. Right. Which is the route that I ended up trying to take. And the way that it was I'd say put on was well if you resign in lieu, it would be cleared from your employee profile. So that way you could get job elsewhere.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:04

But then I think you said in your case note that they're coming after your post as well.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:08

They are. So with that they specified that it wouldn't come after my post certification because it's cleared from my file. But that wasn't

Advice To Future Officers

SPEAKER_08 1:01:20

the case. I had post contact me and saying that they will be opening up a investigation.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:29

What the heck? Now what's the what is the biggest consequence to that? They just pull your post and that's it.

SPEAKER_08 1:01:36

Yes and then they basically air your dar dirty laundry in a sense to the public.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:41

So anyone who wants to look why it shows that this was revoked? Yes. It does. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_07 1:01:49

Yep. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:52

Dang, do you have any uh like tips for any females that want to join the profession of correction roster?

SPEAKER_08 1:02:01

Stick to your policies. That would be the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:05

That goes for males and females.

SPEAKER_08 1:02:07

100% but it's more so like I I would say stick to policy 100% and document everything. Men are gonna do what men are going to do. So you're gonna get caught cat called all the time but stay firm and consistent is the biggest thing.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:29

So no absolutely I hear you I appreciate you coming all the way over here and sharing your story. Like no it gives me a total like insight of how things operate over there which is pretty much similar to here as far as poor leadership. Yeah. But at the beginning of the but at the beginning of the end of the days inmates are inmates. Right. You know right and you're either experienced or you're not or you figure it out or you don't or you learn the hard way. A hundred percent that's not really the good place to learn the hard way. Right no

Closing Thoughts On Culture

SPEAKER_02 1:03:00

so there you guys have it folks another banger for you guys if you like what you saw make sure you hit that subscribe button love you keep pushing forward actors legendary great living life