BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. -- The administrator of the Western Regional Jail has been fired after serving in the position for more than three years.
BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. -- The administrator of the Western Regional Jail has been fired after serving in the position for more than three years.
Mike Clark was relieved of his duties on Monday, said Joe Delong, executive director of the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. DeLong declined to comment further, saying it is a personnel matter.
Ron Casto, the training director for the Division of Corrections, will serve as acting administrator of the jail in Barboursville until a permanent replacement is appointed, DeLong told media outlets.
"I think Mr. Casto will be very, very good at working with staff over there to make sure that the expectations that are put forth in a training environment will be able to be efficiently carried out in the actual environment,'' he said.
In late 2012, 11 correctional officers at the jail were disciplined following two separate use-of-force episodes. Most have resigned or been terminated.
DeLong had told an interim legislative committee in November 2012 that he was concerned about what he called a "buddy system'' among correctional officers at the jail.
On Monday, DeLong said he has "been very clear'' in expressing concern with some activities at the facility since he appeared before the legislative committee.
"For me to sit here and say I have no worries or no concerns at Western Regional Jail would be disingenuous,'' DeLong said Monday. "[Those activities] have not left me with a great comfort level with all staff involved.''
Clark said he was surprised by his dismissal.
He also said he had requested additional training for the correctional officers long ago but didn't receive a response.
BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. -- The administrator of the Western Regional Jail has been fired after serving in the position for more than three years.
Mike Clark was relieved of his duties on Monday, said Joe Delong, executive director of the West Virginia Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. DeLong declined to comment further, saying it is a personnel matter.
Ron Casto, the training director for the Division of Corrections, will serve as acting administrator of the jail in Barboursville until a permanent replacement is appointed, DeLong told media outlets.
"I think Mr. Casto will be very, very good at working with staff over there to make sure that the expectations that are put forth in a training environment will be able to be efficiently carried out in the actual environment,'' he said.
In late 2012, 11 correctional officers at the jail were disciplined following two separate use-of-force episodes. Most have resigned or been terminated.
DeLong had told an interim legislative committee in November 2012 that he was concerned about what he called a "buddy system'' among correctional officers at the jail.
On Monday, DeLong said he has "been very clear'' in expressing concern with some activities at the facility since he appeared before the legislative committee.
"For me to sit here and say I have no worries or no concerns at Western Regional Jail would be disingenuous,'' DeLong said Monday. "[Those activities] have not left me with a great comfort level with all staff involved.''
Clark said he was surprised by his dismissal.
He also said he had requested additional training for the correctional officers long ago but didn't receive a response.
Get Connected