By Kelli Wynn
Dayton Daily News
MIAMI COUNTY - The bargaining unit for the Miami County Jail corrections officers will meet today with Miami County administrators to discuss issues relating to efficiency, health and safety. The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association requested the meeting two months ago after a corrections officer was injured during a video arraignment.
The issues of concern were included in a Dec. 4 letter that Mark Volcheck, attorney for the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, wrote to the Miami County Sheriff Charles Cox.
The issues mentioned in the letter include unarmed corrections officers assisting armed deputies with the transporting of prisoners; consequences for inmates who threaten corrections officers; the condition of hand-held radios; nonworking facility cameras; and the absence of bailiffs at video court.
“Most of the concerns have been addressed or are in the process of being addressed,” Chief Deputy Dave Duchak said. “I believe that they will be very pleased with what they hear from the sheriff.”
Duchak said he spoke to Tony Blakely, Miami County Municipal Court administrator, last week about how the corrections officers had noticed that there were times when there were no bailiffs present during video arraignments. The sheriff’s office and court officials have an agreement that says bailiffs will be present during video arraignments. Two months ago, a corrections officer was injured when he and other authorities tried to subdue an inmate who had become irate. That corrections officer is back on the job, but on light duty, Duchak said.
“If a baliff is not there to assist with operating the arraignment or helping to keep order, we will not be having video arraignments,” Duchak said.
Blakely agreed to make sure the bailiffs, who are armed and have the power to arrest, would be present from now on, Duchak said. Blakely did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Duchak said Blakely told him that when a bailiff was not present it was due to staffing issues.
Miami County has 27 corrections officers and they do not carry weapons, Duchak said. However, the county has posted corrections officer jobs in light of the fact that the county will be opening a portion of the closed incarceration facility next year. This facility is located north of Troy and was closed due to budget issues. The facility can hold 240 inmates and will house about half that amount when it reopens.
The county jail in downtown Troy will decrease its inmates to 55 from the 115 it houses now, Duchak said.
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