"Warden Removed in wake of Prison Escape"

[Bluzmann57]

Who didn't see this coming?

"Governor Tom Vilsack has removed the warden of the Iowa State pennitentiary in wake of last weeks high profile escape.
'We've taken actions to correct failures made at the prison', Vilsack said."
Vilsack is asking for a reccomendation for a new maximum security prison. There should be an answer within 30 days.
link kcci.com/news/5381974/detail.htm

[IA_Seth]

1. yeah I was waiting for that..

I have a good friend and a cousin who both are guards at Anamosa. From what I hear this Ault guy they just transferred to Ft Madison is a no-nonsense, good guy. He was the warden at Anamosa. Hopefully he will keep them locked in!

[Debi]

2. Isn't that a knee-jerk decision?

Was it the Warden's fault that the tower wasn't manned?

[IA_Seth]

3. Maybe..

But I believe this is standard procedure after a prison break...at least it seems to be. It is probably more a PR move than anything.

Regardless, I hope they do a thorough investigation into the escape (I am sure they will), and I hope it is made widely known that budget cuts did in fact help the prisoners over the wall.

IMO though, even if it was due to budget cuts, the warden bears the final responsibility and if he didn't think he could keep "his" prisoners behind the walls they shouldn't have been in that yard.

[Debi]

5. Yeah, I hear you,

But there seems to be more people responsible than just one man.

Vilsack is talking and walking tough, but who handed the Legislature the budget in the first place? Why was AFSCME so pissed off at him?

Is Vilsack gonna pay this guy's heating bills this winter? Hey, Happy Thanksgiving, and because me and the Legislature didn't give you enough money to man your maximum security prison...you're fired!Ho Ho Ho and all that stuff.

[IA_Seth]

7. LOL

You crack me up.

I agree with you, its a shitty thing...but with a top position comes top responsibility. I would never want to be responsible for keeping killers locked up either.

Ho ho ho and all that stuff...lol.

[Debi]

8. My husband just laughed at me

I would never want a job with any responsibility....look at how I handle a job w/freedom?

Gotta go, my son's birthday today and we're going to go eat!!! YUM!!

[rurallib]

4. I don't know if the warden was responsible for the unmanned

tower, but with the budget cuts he had to stretch the dollars he had. Scuttlebutt I heard was that leaving towers unmanned was the warden's decision. But it was just one from a number of ubdesirable choices he could have to pick from. No dollars = a hole someplace.

[Debi]

6. I guess that's the point I'm trying to get to

He didn't have much of a choice and who is responsible for putting him in that position?

Vilsack will be nice and warm and cozy in Terrace Hill, the Legislature will be home with their families and the warden will be pounding the pavement trying to get a job with THAT black mark on his record. Not a pretty picture.

(And no, I don't have a better answer to what should have been done - other than more $$ in the first place - I'm just pissed that once again the little guy gets the shaft for the seemingly important people's stupid decisions).