CCPOAIronwood.com - Internet Bulletin Board for Members of ISP Chapter CCPOA

The ballots are out and Ironwood officers have received them. The process is quite simple and a paid envelope is provided for quick return. Please mark your votes and return your ballots. They MUST BE RECEIVED BY Sacramento CCPOA offices no later than April 13th, so it is recommended that you mail them NO LATER than April 8th to ensure a timely delivery.

Many officers supported this recall movement through signatures on the official petition, now we need your support through voting and quick return of your ballots. Don’t sit back and let others speak FOR YOU - this is your chance to speak out and have your voice heard.

If you have ANY questions, please contact one of the CCPOA Ironwood board members via the institution.

The Bakersfield Californian (www.bakersfield.com) posted a report yesterday, revealing that the so-called “code of silence” among correctional officers is officially “anything but” on the Internet. Two websites were profiled - one the Wasco State Prison CCPOA Site (www.ccpoa-wascostateprison.com), which is sadly offline at the writing of this report - perhaps due to overflow of traffic from the news article, and the other is the infamous Paco Villa’s website (www.pacovilla.com) - known for its frank discussion of industry issues.

On Wasco’s site postings calling the warden’s administration “thug-hugging” and “bone headed” seemed to amuse the writer - and one anonymous poster was singled out with the username of “Can’t wait to retire.”

On Paco Villa’s site, the reporter noted Paco’s nicknames for officials in administration - such as “Spud” for Rod Hickman and “Driftwood” for Jeanne Woodward.

Corrections spokesman told reporters that they “don’t pay much attention to the sites,” that they have been given printouts of the message boards, sites and blogs but that they won’t read them because they “have far too much work to do.”

Recently in the news, employees have been fired for blogging negatively about bosses or posting inappropriate photos on their websites. Corrections spokesman stated that “web site contributors shouldn’t be in peril as long as they’re not slandering anybody or committing a crime.”

Union Representative for Wasco Darin Standiford said that the sites are “like a group therapy session.” He agrees that contributors likely won’t see any negative action due to their participation. “If they’re not breaking the law,” he said. “Who are we to say what they can and cannot say?”

Some harsh accusations have been made against administration in the Wasco posts, with regard to a case of inappropriate touching of an inmate by a high ranking administrative member - and other issues via the website. Standiford concedes that, “there are a lot of disgruntled employees right now.”

But perhaps the worst thing to come out of the Bakersfield Californian’s report was the unmasking of the owner and former correctional officer behind PacoVilla.com. On his website he states:

As of this writing, your never humble blogger hasn’t seen the Bakersfield Californian article. I only know it identified Paco’s alter-ego. It was expected as I was interviewed a few weeks back… Paco Villa, as previously note is not ME and I am not HIM. I run the site, pay the bills and compose most of the smart-assed content. However, the definition and concept of Paco Villa is not changed simply because my name is known… In any event, I pray your continued indulgence in tolerating the aka. It is hoped your enjoyment of my simple rants exceeds any disdain you may rightfully have for the “real me.”

-Paco Villa (from Paco Villa’s Blog: http://ccpoa.blogspot.com)

Lance Corcoran, VP of CCPOA agreed that the boards are a “great sounding board,” but that he isn’t certain if all the people posting/viewing the board are actual members. But he did say, “I don’t want to give the impression members are universally angry. There are frustrations in some cases that the leadership really ignores them.”

“Explorer: Surviving Maximum Security”

On Sunday April 10th at 8pm ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel, Lisa Ling, host of Explorer, will show viewers a very rare inside look at one of California’s highest security prisons. In a press release from National Geographic released March 21st, Ling finds “a culture unto itself: divided by race, controlled by force and always on the edge of chaos.”

Interviews with inmates – newcomers and lifers – are largely profiled throughout the report. Prison gangs, “protection,” body searches, contraband and inmate weapons are just some of the topics touched upon in this episode. Colorful remarks from inmates such as “it’s a shark tank out there” and “I think of the people hanging themselves,” combined with zero interviews from correctional officers and staff clearly place this program in the pro-inmate category.

National Geographic Channel is a joint venture between National Geographic Television and Film and Fox Cable Networks, and can be found on Time Warner Cable, DirecTV/DishNetwork and other local providers. For more information on the program and viewing information for the Coachella Valley, please visit www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/.

Rod Hickman, Youth and Adult Correctional Secretary for the Department of Corrections, told reporters on Thursday that an expert panel will be reviewing the security and employee safety situations at all of California’s adult and youth prisons, following the results of the investigation into the stabbing death of Correctional Officer Gonzalez at CIM earlier this year.

The report from the Office of the Inspection General (PDF File HERE: www.oig.ca.gov/pdf/Review_03-17-05.pdf) cited 10 findings as probable cause for incident that happened on January 10th, including inappropriate housing, contamination of the crime scene and of course, the delay in issue of protective vests by the institution’s administration.

Hickman told the press: “We have a responsibility to make our institutions safe. I think it’s incumbent on us to take a real close look statewide.”

On May 19th a new security review panel will be appointed by the Board of Corrections, which will include representatives of the American Correctional Association, the Association of State Correctional Administrators as well as representatives of employee unions and correctional employees from adult and youth institutions. No estimated time has been set for the pending review of California’s 32 adult prisons and 8 juvenile facilities, however Hickman told reporters that priorities will be set for which institutions will be examined first.

Warden Lori DiCarlo of California Institution for Men (CIM) in Chino along with her two top deputies were placed on administrative leave Wednesday after the inspector general’s report revealed multiple violations in safety procedures at the facility.

According to the CCPOA State Secretary, the petitions have been reviewed and have qualified for an election. The secretary also indicated that the Credentials Committee will meet Monday March 21st to begin mailing ballots. You should expect to see your ballot in the mail later that week.Members are asked to ensure that CCPOA Headquarters has your current address so you will receive your ballot without delay. If you believe you need to update your address, simply dial 800-821-6443 and offer your updated information.Your participation is greatly appriciated and please remember every vote counts.

The Board of Directors would like to thank the membership for their support. We have gathered over 350 signatures on the petition to recall the Chapter President and the petition will now be sent to CCPOA Headquarters in Sacramento for confirmation. However, this is JUST PHASE ONE of the recall effort.

Upon completion of confirmation, the membership @ Ironwood will receive recall ballots in the mail at their HOME ADDRESS on record with CCPOA. The Board of Directors would like to ask that you continue to show your support and fill in the ballots when they arrive and mail them back ASAP in the postage-paid envelopes.

As soon as more information becomes available about the ballots, the ballot deadline and other recall results, we will post them here on CCPOAIronwood.com or you can check with your local board members at work.

Any questions? Feel free to email ccpoaironwood.com for details.

A few days ago we placed this on the front page of CCPOAIronwood.com - we also thought it would be good to blog this here for people who might only be receiving our RSS feeds to their email boxes daily.

The media has stated that this labor union committee is a combination of nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and prison guards - no official word is out yet if CCPOA is involved, but as this is a definite UNION MATTER for all California employees, it is definitely worth taking a look at.

Petitioners are all over the Coachella Valley and Blythe areas this weekend, working to get enough signatures to get this on the special November ballot. Tell your family, your friends and your loved ones how this could affect your job.

ALERT: STOP REFORM AGENDA
A new California labor union committee was formed to increase awareness and to advise union members to NOT sign the ballot initiatives supporting these proposed constitutional amendments on a special November ballot. Volunteers are currently asking for voter signatures - PLEASE READ this before signing this initiative that could cost Californians and union members BIG TIME… [FULL STORY - NEW WINDOW]

In the past, the Ironwood Chapter of CCPOA would host monthly chapter meetings in either Blythe or Indio California. Normally these meetings would be held on the third Wednesday of every month and usually at 1630 hours. So common was this practice that advance notice of meetings wasn’t even necessary, everyone just knew.

The July 2004 meeting was held in Cathedral City for the first time. During this meeting the board voiced concerns about meetings being moved from Indio to Cathedral City. The Board made a symbolic motion to hold the meetings in Indio rather than Cathedral City. Even though the motion passed, the chapter president refused to accept the majority opinion. After that meeting, members overheard the chapter president saying something to the effect that he would start holding meetings in Banning Ca. Banning is another hour away from the Institution.

Since that July meeting, there has only been one meeting called to order in Blythe California. Every other meeting he has scheduled in the remote desert location of Chiriaco Summit. Is this all just a coincidence?

On March 9, 2005 a notice was posted that there will be a chapter meeting in Cathedral City at Century Park on SATURDAY March 19, 2005 at 0900 hours. Is it just a coincidence that this is only minutes from the chapter presidents Cathedral City home? Or that many of the chapter members will not be able to attend this meeting because they will be taking the Sergeants Exam 150 miles away in Blythe. It’s all just a coincidence, right?

One might think that these meetings are being carefully planned so that Board Members can’t attend and could then be removed from the Board. It seems to be the “M.O.” of this chapter president to do what’s convenient for himself and no one else. Maybe it’s all just a coincidence….Hum… I Think Not !!!