Four Florida Corrections Officers Fired in Riot

This the 2nd time that I know of where the same Sheriff fires an officer. You can bet anything you want that these 4 CO's have never received any training to handle a riot and the same goes for the supervisor.

I am not saying that it was OK to beat up on someone who is in cuffs but, without the proper training on how to handle something like this you put to the CO's and inmates at risk.

Even the state attorney's office wasn't sure if they would be able to a conviction.

They want cop's and CO's to do a job that not many would want to do. Yet, they fail to provide training, equipment, and money to hire the best and keep the best. Sometimes I think that they just want a warm body to fill in the holes.

"When the officers went in to put down the riot, four of them were caught on surveillance video striking three inmates after they had been restrained in handcuffs."

Have you ever wondered why most established middle eastern countries have such low crime rates? There's a reason for that. Criminals fear the consequences of the law and the law enforcer.

I'm not talking about people's legal right to lawfully protest in a public square. These were incarcerated individuals who gave up their rights when they created havoc for the rest of society. If they would have been spanked as children we wouldn't have to spank them as adults (who's to blame for that?).

But...Let's punish those who were there to restore order because they were "striking" the troublemakers. I wonder how many criminals would think twice about their actions if they knew such behaviour would bring about the same treatment? We've really got things backwards in this country.

GOD Forbid you just do your job huh?

Makes you feel tougher to hit a cuffed inmate/suspect? Like you said, they are there to restore order. Which from the article, they did.

Read the job duties of a CO and tell me where your opinion of a prisoner or his/her crime is asked for or needed. If they can't handle the job, then get rid of them cause their not doing anyone a favor.

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Scheduled Duties (duties which are done on a regular/daily basis)

An officer must:
work in various degrees of physical security, and perform his/her duties while working in a closed, secure setting. Many of the positions involve one officer supervising a housing unit, with no separation of inmates and officers, except for individual secure sleeping rooms;
be able to control and supervise a group of inmates in an open setting such as the housing units, including times of meals, recreation, work details, inmate hygiene, etc.;
maintain a firm and fair relationship with inmates, possess good communications skills, and maintain control when under the threat of (or actual) physical assault;
provide inmates with direction to ensure that assigned tasks are completed properly;
direct inmate movement by implementing schedules for controlled movement/escorts or restricting movement as necessary
conduct searches of cells, housing units, and common areas of the institution for contraband and check for sanitary conditions;
conduct periodic skin and visual body cavity searches;
conduct staff and visitor searches upon direction from designated superiors;
be prepared to respond to emergency situations quickly and calmly;
ensure that overall daily operations, over which he/she has responsibility run smoothly and on time;
supervise visitors, including repairmen, chaplains, counselors, volunteers, and other potential hostages;
conduct accurate inmate counts at prescribed times;
generate all paperwork required or appropriate to the position, on the form(s) required;
display an effective working relationship with prison contracted services and peripheral departments, including but not limited to, Commissary, INS, Therapeutic Counseling Staff, Medical, Sheriff's, etc.;
display an effective working relationship with other agencies and the public;
be on duty at least 15 minutes prior to the start of his/her shift for the purpose of attending roll call; and
properly relieve staff by relaying all relevant information, reports, etc. prior to leaving a post.

Non-Scheduled Duties

An officer must:
regularly circulate through assigned areas (including perimeter and ground patrols) and observe activity;
observe, monitor and supervise movement of inmates/inmate property;
observe and report changes in inmate personality, demeanor, and/or physical condition to the appropriate person;
ensure inmate compliance to Standard Operating Procedures by reinforcing positive behavior and correcting negative behavior, including the issuance of unit actions and discipline as outlined in the Standard Operating Procedures, Inmate Handbook, Unit Postings, etc.;
respond to direction of supervisory staff in the handling of critical incidents to ensure compliance to jail policy/procedures and applicable statutes. These incidents include, but are not limited to, Cell Extractions, use of ProStraint Chair, Fire Evacuations, crime scene/evidence preservations, etc.;
report all maintenance concerns and refer them to maintenance staff as needed; and
search vehicles entering or leaving the institution to prevent unauthorized transportations of persons and things as required.

They were honest in saying they did not have enough training to deal with a riot {probably a few other situations too} ... but it sounds like the adrenaline rush and sense of danger overtook their commonsense...

There is a trend to not well train corrections officers.

The turn over is high. Training is spotty, often OJT.

While they are LE and often deputies, there is often no standard training.

I Alabama the state CO's go to the trooper academy for POST and specialized training.

Including riot control.

They are also called on to assist neighboring departments quell civil disturbances and make arrests.

Some sheriffs departments provide mainly court officers and act as jailers, as the county is make up of incorporated towns with their own departments.

The SO only requires they meet minimum POST standards.

Maybe it's time CO's receive mandated training and not be short changed.

Perhaps at a central state funded facility, if local departments have no trainers, POI's and training man hours, or funds o spare.

While attending a department, or community college academy will get you POST certified, it does not prepare you for corrections.

Crowd, riot and training in gangs, etc.

I still see deputies working the jails and courts without anti-stab vests.

Goes to show they are not getting what they need.

In some states, they advertise corrections jobs on billboards and offer alleviated training, lots of cliff notes.

Little or no empty hand or physical training.

A few weeks later and you are in the cell blocks. From cashier to corrections in three pay periods.

Like to days when the national guard got cast off surplus, outdated gear.

Then got called up and sent into combat alongside regular troops who had training and modern equipment.

Same here. They ARE LE, should be treated, equipped and trained as such.

The fight is not over when you arrest and deliver the suspects to the lock up.

Shouldn't take much training to realize right from wrong, it's usually brought to our attention at an early age by our parents.....striking someone who is restrained in handcuffs would fall under a wrong....and playing the I didn't recieve the proper training is just trying to save your ass.

I agree 100% with Frank. Don't people realize what a much more great country this would be if the liberals weren't running everything.

Well, I see a lot of imput on what they should have done and not do. I see a some saying that their reasons of not having enough training is looking for a way out.

I can tell you by first hand experience that the US BOP Academy is only 3 weeks long. They must shoot and qual with the handgun, shotgun, and M-4.

What kind of CO do you think you get from 3 weeks of training. Then once they are out in the field the shoot for qual once a year.

I have several close friends who are with the US BOP and they say the same thing. Training is not high on the list. They start off as a GS 5 and a joungyman is a GS 8 the BOP has a high turn over due to low pay and long hours.

I am not saying to beat up someone who is cuffed, if they person is still fighting or kicking their are ways to deal with it. But, that comes from good training.

I will also say that many get into Law Enforcement and they have no idea or business doing this. It takes a special person to do this.

I'm impressed that they actually went in to quell the riot. Most states these days try to talk them down and give them everything they can instead of using force. There's a lot less liability that way. I will agree that training for CO's leaves a lot to be desired. It's 6 weeks here, and they don't even have to qual on firearms anymore. Oh, and no more pepper spraying the cadets as someone may be injured. Ridiculous. So, you get plenty of people who should not be associated with law enforcement in any way. Now we have to rely on these same people to know what to do when the sh@# hits the fan. Not a pretty picture. By the way, most of the training they get in the academy is CYA for the state, and many of the instructors can't remember the last time they actually walked a tier. Glad I only have 4 more years to go.

To COSGT, you hit the nail right on the head. Instructors at Acadmies have been out of the field for a long time. I am one of them but, in the old days the Academy made it a requirement for all Instrutors to go out to the field for 2 to 3 weeks. I know that isn't a long time but at least you get get to get your hands wet again.

Then it came to a stop, no more money so we lost touch with the outside world and only had to deal with what we have to work with.

Being a CO in a jail or prison is a whole different world. You have these dirt bags for 8 to 16 hours a shift. Long hours, low pay and the outlook of moving up is not very bright sometimes.

So I say to those who are doing this, if you have time and are able to move to another job do so before you get to old. Take care and Be Smart.