With the Florida Department of Corrections under heavy scrutiny, Secretary Michael Crews on Tuesday ordered the firing of a Columbia Correctional Institution captain because of allegations the officer failed to report information about potential criminal activity at the prison.
A dismissal letter alleges that Capt. Jason Fox did not complete a report after receiving a phone call Feb. 1 from a Tampa police corporal about an inmate receiving a package with cell phones, marijuana and firearms.
“Captain Fox’s failure to report this information compromised the safety of both staff and inmates,” Crews said in a prepared statement.
The dismissal comes as the department faces scrutiny and investigations that primarily stem from suspicious deaths of inmates. Last week, Crews placed the warden of Dade Correctional Institution on administrative leave and announced the retirement of a deputy warden. Dade Correctional has been at the center of the controversy because of questions about the death of an inmate after officers allegedly forced him to shower in scalding water as punishment.
source: The News Service of Florida
