05-10-2006, 03:31 AM
It's been three months since a change in leadership at the Department of Corrections, and the agency is working to put scandals behind it.
Part of the scandal that led Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to fire corrections secretary James Crosby in February took place at a softball game last year. A former minor league player was put on the corrections department payroll to win the annual prison tournament. Later, officers duked it out in a post-game brawl.
Florida Corrections Department interim secretary James McDonough is implementing programs designed to raise department morale and increase public confidence.
"I think when everyone realizes the person standing left or right is absolutely clear-headed, stable, got their feet on them, ready for action, and our people do go into harm's way on a routine basis, morale will go up even further," McDonough said.
The department is going to require a drug test, and estimates about .5 percent of the force of 27,000 will test positive. Those that do won't lose their jobs if they get treatment.
McDonough will also require an oath of office and a pledge to the constitution.
"What I'm trying to demonstrate with this great group of men and women is that we're all prepared to do our job," McDonough said. "We'll do it to the best of our ability, and if you're not, then you're in the wrong outfit. You need to go somewhere else."
The Department of Corrections will also begin random testing of its employees beginning May 30. The testing is expected to cost about $200,000 a year.
Police Benevolent Association President Jim Baiardi supports the changes.
"I've heard a lot of officers that said to me, 'We can't wait until we get out of the papers and out of the news negatively,' " said Baiardi. "So to them this is kind of like our ladder to get on out of it, because in a little while, people are going to look back and say, 'Those officers were pretty good guys.' "
Part of the scandal that led Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to fire corrections secretary James Crosby in February took place at a softball game last year. A former minor league player was put on the corrections department payroll to win the annual prison tournament. Later, officers duked it out in a post-game brawl.
Florida Corrections Department interim secretary James McDonough is implementing programs designed to raise department morale and increase public confidence.
"I think when everyone realizes the person standing left or right is absolutely clear-headed, stable, got their feet on them, ready for action, and our people do go into harm's way on a routine basis, morale will go up even further," McDonough said.
The department is going to require a drug test, and estimates about .5 percent of the force of 27,000 will test positive. Those that do won't lose their jobs if they get treatment.
McDonough will also require an oath of office and a pledge to the constitution.
"What I'm trying to demonstrate with this great group of men and women is that we're all prepared to do our job," McDonough said. "We'll do it to the best of our ability, and if you're not, then you're in the wrong outfit. You need to go somewhere else."
The Department of Corrections will also begin random testing of its employees beginning May 30. The testing is expected to cost about $200,000 a year.
Police Benevolent Association President Jim Baiardi supports the changes.
"I've heard a lot of officers that said to me, 'We can't wait until we get out of the papers and out of the news negatively,' " said Baiardi. "So to them this is kind of like our ladder to get on out of it, because in a little while, people are going to look back and say, 'Those officers were pretty good guys.' "