By Imani Cruzen
Pioneer Press
RAMSEY COUNTY, Minn. — The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a $170,000 settlement with a former corrections officer with the Ramsey County Correctional Facility who alleged she was terminated in retaliation for reporting on unsafe conditions for employees and inmates.
The Ramsey County Correctional Facility in Maplewood is a 556-bed facility for men and women who have received a sentence of up to one year.
Ramsey County denies liability and the parties settled to avoid “the risks, uncertainty, and costs associated with litigation,” according to he settlement agreement. A spokesperson for Ramsey County declined to comment on the settlement Tuesday.
According to Tameca Abdulai’s lawsuit, which was filed in June last year, while Abdulai was employed at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility , she made multiple complaints and reports of unlawful and dangerous jail conditions. Those complaints involved inmates’ mental health needs, inmate assaults and threats, officers working under the influence and Prison Rape Elimination Act complaints. Abdulai was formerly known as Tameca Williams.
Lawsuit: Corrections officials ignored reports
From early 2023, officials at the facility ignored her reports for more than six months, according to the lawsuit.
In August of 2023, Abdulai, who has worked with corrections since 2014, filed a grievance regarding RCCF’s “alarming lack of workplace safety” and “severe negligence” in “repeatedly ignoring complaints, both verbal and documented and failing to address inmate harassment.”
She again filed a complaint with the facilities business agent in December 2023 after the lawsuit alleges she received confirmation that officials failed to process her previous grievance or related complaints.
In March of 2024, Abdulai was informed of RCCF’s decision to terminate her employment. RCCF claimed, according to the lawsuit, that Abdulai misused a bullhorn during a Feb. 26, 2024 incident in which an inmate was assaulting two officers. The lawsuit alleges Abdulai’s use of the bullhorn was consistent with longstanding RCCF practice and describes her termination as retaliatory in nature.
The lawsuit alleges the “unlawful retaliatory discharge” was in violation of Minnesota Whistleblowers laws which are intended to protest those who report potential legal violations.
Reports of problems in the lawsuit
According to the lawsuit, her reports of issues at the facility included:
• In 2018 a Ramsey County lieutenant allowed an officer to date an inmate in exchange for pain medication and that the lieutenant was prone to retaliatory abuse of subordinates.
• In March 2023, Abdulai was assaulted by an inmate during a psychotic episode. Abdulai submitted complaints covering ways RCCF failed to ensure staff and inmate safety. The lawsuit alleges no action was taken in response to her complaints.
• In March 2023, Abdulai reported another threat and concerns with an increased frequency of threatening behavior by inmates. The lawsuit alleges Abdulai’s superior laughed at her and took no action.
Lawsuit describes dangerous conditions at facility
The lawsuit states one of Abdulai’s written reports noted that corrections officials received at least 14 complaints between February and July 2023, which were not investigated.
In February of 2024, Abdulai met with Captain Olay Philaphandeth about her concerns. He did not ask questions or provide “substantive response or feedback,” according to the lawsuit.
From 2023 to early 2024, at least five officers were physically assaulted, some seriously, and at least four inmates almost died while in custody at the facility, according to the lawsuit.
An inmate in 2024 swallowed multiple batteries and was then given his regular medication and sent back to his cell about 10 minutes later, rather than placed under heightened supervision, the lawsuit states.
On March 5, 2024, she was placed on paid leave pending an “investigation of allegations of potentially disciplinable behavior.” On March 22, 2024, she was fired, “purportedly due to her alleged misuse of a bullhorn,” according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit describes the bullhorn incident as “false pretext” to terminate her “in retaliation.”
Abdulai’s attorney, Paul Schinner of Halunen Law, said in a statement Tuesday that his client was pleased with the settlement.
“We are proud to have represented her and hope this resolution sends a message that in Minnesota, employees have a legal right to speak up about workplace safety and that whistleblowers deserve respect, not retaliation,” Schinner said.
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