By Adam Ferrise
Advance Ohio Media
CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County suspended two jail officers and issued a written reprimand to a third for their respective roles in the mistaken release of three inmates in a single day.
The county issued a five-day suspension without pay for Quincy Jimson and one day for Alicia Rowe-Cook. Guard Robert Parente received a written reprimand.
County officials have not yet issued their decision on possible punishment for their supervisor that day, Cpl. Adam Broeckel.
Jimson previously was disciplined with a written reprimand for a mistaken release in the summer of 2019, Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said. He was one of several employees punished after they released four inmates by mistake over six months, including an inmate accused of murder.
Jimson previously worked in the jail area where jail workers book and release inmates. Rowe-Cook and Parente had not, according to letters of discipline issued Wednesday.
All three officers put incorrect information into the jail’s computer system on June 13, resulting in the inmates’ release despite not posting bond set by a judge earlier in the day.
The jail was short-staffed at the time. Six officers typically work in that area, but only two worked that day, according to court records. Rowe-Cook and Parente filled in to help but had no training on how to input information into the jail’s computer system.
Jimson failed to check on the other two officers’ work but documented that he did, according to the letter. He also helped input information into the jail computer system for two of the inmates that eventually were released.
Rowe-Cook and Parente also input incorrect information into the jail system. According to the letter, Rowe-Cook was also disciplined for failing to write a written statement about what happened that day.
All three are veteran officers. Jimson was hired in 1995, Rowe-Cook in 1999 and Parente in 2003.
The three inmates each faced misdemeanor charges when the guards released them after their arraignments. Two were charged with domestic violence and one with assault.
Police arrested two later, and the third received a summons to appear in court at a later date.
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