Escambia Commissioner Gene Valentino has gotten off his negotiations with Sheriff David Morgan on the county’s response to the U.S. Department of Justice’s findings of longstanding “systematic” problems at the Escambia County Jail to an incredibly bad start.
The county commission voted yesterday at a Special Meeting for Valentino to head the meetings with Touart and county staff with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
In an interview with WEAR 3, Valentino said, “I’ve got reports coming back to me that some are sitting there playing computer games on their laptops and not even addressing prisoners. Let’s talk about those things first before you ask me for money.”
How is that for good faith negotiations? To read about the issues facing detention deputies, check out our The Big House and the Bigger Picture.
Commissioners Wilson Robertson, Lumon May and Steve Barry made it clear that they expect Valentino and Touart to meet the DOJ deadline–which is now 41 days. They want to work with Sheriff Morgan and come up with a three-five year corrective action plan.
Valentino and Touart appear to have a different agenda.