By Bobby Kerlik
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Allegheny County might not name a new jail warden until a new county executive takes office next year, a spokesman said Friday.
“We may look at that. That’s in the conversation — if we should just keep the interim warden in place a little longer,” county spokesman Kevin Evanto said. “Last time the search took nine months.”
Warden Ramon Rustin left the Uptown lockup yesterday for the last time. He’s leaving for the same post in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
“I have mixed emotions. I’m excited that I’m starting in a new place, but I’m sad to leave,” said Rustin, 53, who has been running the jail since October 2004. “I’m hoping I did a good job while I’ve been here. I made a lot of changes.”
County Executive Dan Onorato announced this week he will not run for re-election. Evanto said an interim warden would be named by Jan. 31.
Onorato’s term expires at the end of the year.
The county will conduct a national search to find Rustin’s replacement. The interim warden could come from the state Department of Corrections. Deputy Warden Lance Bohn will be in charge until then, Evanto said.
Rustin earned praise for helping the jail recover from several sex, drug and illness crises that preceded his hiring. But he leaves amid new scandals, including charges that one of his workers beat an inmate and allegations of corruption against his since-fired internal affairs chief.
County officials and nonprofit leaders credit Rustin with helping spearhead a collaborative effort with local human service agencies to create inmate rehabilitation programs at the jail to help reduce recidivism.
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