2 years after Biendl death, officers say prisons still not safe
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- Outrage over the murder of corrections officer Jayme Biendl spurred top-to-bottom security changes. But two years after the killing, some workers say Washington's prisons remain as dangerous as ever.
After Biendl was murdered, the Department of Corrections compiled 1,200 suggestions to improve staff security. The department implemented 800 of those suggestions, but some say the changes have not made prisons safer.
Sgt. Michael Boe will never forget the night Biendl was murdered two years ago. He started CPR the moment he found her on the chapel floor at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
"It still hurts," Boe said. "I still miss her. She was going to teach my daughter how to ride a horse and she'll never get that chance."
Biendl had been strangled by inmate Byron Scherf, who's being tried for the murder.
The Department of Corrections followed up with extensive, system-wide security changes, but Boe said he's no safer today than he was two years ago.
"We still have one-man posts. The chapel where Jamie was working that night is a one-man post," he said.
DOC officials say staffing levels are on ongoing concern, so they now double up at critical points during the day.
"All program areas are open and closed with at least two staff members, just identifying that as high risk times," said Dan Pacholke of the Department of Corrections.
The department has implemented more training and brought in new equipment, and there's also a revamped approach to safety on the job, including safety advisory committees at the state and local level.
"It's not a perfect system, but in a relatively short period of time, that is a pretty sweeping level of change," Pacholke said.
Boe and other corrections officers want the right to call an arbitrator to help work through some of the ongoing issues, such as staffing levels. He said Biendl's death is a reminder that prisons are inherently dangerous and changes must be made to minimize the risks.
"We need to keep her memory alive," he said. "She needs to serve as an example of what went horribly wrong and that we can fight that, that we can learn from it."
A pair of bills are now moving through the state legislature to grant corrections officers the right to arbitrate labor disputes. DOC officials say that would be unnecessary and expensive.
After Biendl was murdered, the Department of Corrections compiled 1,200 suggestions to improve staff security. The department implemented 800 of those suggestions, but some say the changes have not made prisons safer.
Sgt. Michael Boe will never forget the night Biendl was murdered two years ago. He started CPR the moment he found her on the chapel floor at the Monroe Correctional Complex.
"It still hurts," Boe said. "I still miss her. She was going to teach my daughter how to ride a horse and she'll never get that chance."
Biendl had been strangled by inmate Byron Scherf, who's being tried for the murder.
The Department of Corrections followed up with extensive, system-wide security changes, but Boe said he's no safer today than he was two years ago.
"We still have one-man posts. The chapel where Jamie was working that night is a one-man post," he said.
DOC officials say staffing levels are on ongoing concern, so they now double up at critical points during the day.
"All program areas are open and closed with at least two staff members, just identifying that as high risk times," said Dan Pacholke of the Department of Corrections.
The department has implemented more training and brought in new equipment, and there's also a revamped approach to safety on the job, including safety advisory committees at the state and local level.
"It's not a perfect system, but in a relatively short period of time, that is a pretty sweeping level of change," Pacholke said.
Boe and other corrections officers want the right to call an arbitrator to help work through some of the ongoing issues, such as staffing levels. He said Biendl's death is a reminder that prisons are inherently dangerous and changes must be made to minimize the risks.
"We need to keep her memory alive," he said. "She needs to serve as an example of what went horribly wrong and that we can fight that, that we can learn from it."
A pair of bills are now moving through the state legislature to grant corrections officers the right to arbitrate labor disputes. DOC officials say that would be unnecessary and expensive.
800 changes really? must of been while I was on leave....huh?
Dan? Dan? Can you hear us? Your no telling the truth again.....
Maldonados mandatory sentence was 161yrs I do believe. Newland (who brutally murdered a young lady in Spokane and stole her credit cards and car) was sentenced to 45yrs. Neither of them should have been working in industries.Â
I just have a bad feeling that nothing is going to change.
r.i.p jayme..this young woman wouldnt have lost her life if our state was more concerned with the safety of d.o.c employees and the general public, instead of treating criminals "humanly".We live in such a "hug a thug" state, being sentenced to prison seems more like a free ride then punishment to me. Why do criminals who are given a mandatory sentence which exceeds their life expectancy locked up, instead of executed?. If Maldonado (theTacoma Mall shooter) who was sentenced to 163yrs was executed instead of being sent to CBCC, he would never had the opportunity to pair up with Kevin Newland and attempt to escape. Mr. Hatt would never had to have shot Newland, changing his life forever. The safety of our corrections employees and general public need to be top priority,unfortunatly the treatment of prisioners is more important then the safety of our society.
@Cara Correctional Industries needs to be investigated. The two from CBCC that tried to escape would never have gotten out of prison before they were in their 70's. Why were they in job training program that was designed for offenders without work experience that would be getting out? I wish KOMO would investigate that part of DOC. How do you spell corruption?
As an FCC licensed telecommunications expert with over 30 years of experience and dozens of training seminars to my credit, I have applied three times for an electronic tech 4 position at Monroe and have been passed over every time. My problem? I'm over 50.
Um no, Pacholke...the "high risk" time is when an officer is all alone w/ a freaking perv who gets his jollyies strangling people. The risk of an event like that happening is much lower during movement when lot's of convicts and people are moving around and tower officers are watching. I worked that post pack in 1984. I also worked alone in the evening cardroom (small room of the IK)....all alone w/ 400 inmates and nothing but a corded telephone hanging on the wall.  Â
I'm pretty sure there is not one blue shirt out there that doesn't want to see Scherf execute for Jayme's murder. To not execute that sick animal is a slap in the face for every officer who works in a prison. You might as well be spitting on Jayme's grave if you don't want Scherf executed. He's a rabid animal and the most humane thing to do is put him down before he kills someone else.
@SargeMcC - He asked for death, I say we give him exactly what he wants.
Build a set of gallows on the prison grounds where the inmates can see them and use them if a guard gets harmed. One scratch and down the chute you go.
Nothing will change at the Department of Corrections. Management is still the "good ol boy system" and when they screw up, it's a cover up. Big mistakes in one area, transfer them to another area of the state. Safety issues put forth by the blue shirts are not taken serious. Is the place safer since Jayme was killed? No, if anything it is worse. Offenders are not held accountable for much and are "set up" to fail once they get out. Is this what all state government is like?Â
@justaguard - first of all, you're NOT "justaguard" :)  And I absolutely agree. Scott Frakes was at the helm when Jayme was murdered. And where is he now? Yep, Olympia - hobnobbing with cronies like Bernie Warner and Dan Pacholke. The good ole' boy regime is alive and well - just like Eldon Vail left it (we all know how that went, but if you're curious, just Google it) Inslee did NOTHING to change that - even though he had the option of having appointed state officials re-apply for their jobs. So Guv Inslee - 4 more years of the same bullsh#$? How many more officers will be assaulted or, God forbid, killed in the line of duty before something changes? The days of touchy-feely, hug-a-thug corrections need to END. ACCOUNTABILITY...say that with me one more time...ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!!
@mccwife Agreed can take much more of this hug a thug DOC
Â
@mccwife@justaguard
Ummm, you do realize that this atrocity happened under Gregoire's watch, AND that Inslee took the helm just days ago, right? Â He hasn't been in office long enough to determine if he is effective. Â
Â
What did Christine do to address the problem? Oh, yeah, NOTHING.
Â
How about petitioning the Gov's office to address this problem? Then at least you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're taking part in attempting to fix a broken system.
Â
@Smokin Bear @mccwife @justaguard - so you're saying that Inslee has been living under a rock and has no idea what's been going on at DOC all these years? Gimme a break.  No, Gregoire did NOTHING but give a speech and a few tears at Jayme's memorial. If Inslee allows the current DOC regime to stay in place, then he will be just as guilty. Again, the history is there, the results tragic - yet Pacholke, Warner and Frakes still have jobs - it's just wrong.Â
Safety first, right after profits.
@Rockberry Thats CIÂ I mean DOC's way