[SparrowHawk62]

I am so glad I'm not working in the Rockland County (NY) Sheriff's
Department Corrections Division any more. I retired on a stress
related disability over a year and half ago. The stress and lack of compassion from my administration was just to much to deal with. The little black cloud of "only nineteen more years to go" was slowly taking it's toll on me. (The department has finally reached a 25 year and out retirement. Which would have given me only five more years to go with my military buy back. An issue I came under heat for from some non veterans.)
I witnessed my fair share of abuse, on both sides of the line.
Mandatory over time, not being able to get time off for vacation,
rules and regs. changing everyday with every supervisor, going years without a contract. Ranking Officers who physically abused inmates and were further promoted. And it goes on and on. In a small county politics runs the show, the good old boy net work is well in trenched. Those protected by it show little fear of getting caught doing anything an other officer would surely get burned for.
The administration nor the union never offered any stress, anger
management or debriefing to help an officer with job related problems. We had our share of officers with drinking and drug problems (no random drug testing in this dept.) and help was never offered until disciplinary charges were drawn up. Job related problems such as suicides or attempts, inmate stabbings, gang fights or even an inmates death were not spoken about, nor was any treatment offered. DWI's, a brawl at a fire house in which officers physically assaulted Fire Men were handled in a hush-hush manner. An officer who was apparently "stoned" was told to get in his car and go home sick! Not even offered a ride!
It gets deeper than this. In my almost 18 years I saw a lot of dirt get kicked under the carpet and skeletons stacked
in the closet.
On May 13, 2005 Evan Washington took his own life buy placing a
weapon to his temple and pulling the trigger. Evan had 18 years
service with this same department. He was also an 8 year Veteran of the US Army. While accused of two DWI's the department only made his life on the job harder. He was also rear ended while off duty by a sheriff's department van. He was asked not to peruse damages for this and just let it go. He was denied workman's comp, and accused of abuse of his personal sick time while recovering from this accident. It was rumored at Evan's wake that the administration went to a promotional dinner that night. Further rumored that "they" were mad this happened on their watch. I do know that neither the Corrections Chief nor one of the Captains showed up to the wake. Only
negative treatment..
Now this mess:

By CATHERINE L. FOLEY* THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication: May 26, 2005) *No known relation to me.
"A 15-year county correction officer was convicted yesterday of
stealing from an inmate at the Rockland County jail.
Terry Street, 41, of 31 Eagle St., Chestnut Ridge, was convicted of
fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and will be dismissed from his county job, Rockland Undersheriff Thomas Guthrie said.
"This really comes as a huge betrayal to all of us," Guthrie
said. "If we didn't have the cameras, somebody else would have took the blame for this."
Street was found guilty of stealing $1,500 that belonged to inmate Curtis Wilson, 34, of New Haven, Conn.
New York State Police confiscated $1,500 from Wilson after charging him Aug. 3 with having fraudulent checks and identification. State police sent Wilson's money and other personal property to the county jail, and Street was in charge of logging inmate property at the time.
The jail had no record of receiving the cash and property.
Street was charged Aug. 19 after an investigation by the county
sheriff. "State troopers, their careers would have been in jeopardy over this," Guthrie said. "They were the last ones in possession of it. It could have left a lot of room for suspicion and that's terrible. Fortunately, the cameras proved that the state troopers had given it to us."
Street was being held in the Rockland County jail yesterday with bail set at $10,000. Sentencing is July 26. He faces up to four years in state prison. Street has been suspended from his county job since he was charged."

Great guy Hun? How'd you like to work with people like this? While in my opinion, Street was never worthy of the title Officer he'll now have a new one, "CONVICT!" Had he a problem that was over looked by the department, or one he wasn't willing to admit?
Yeah, I have so much less stress and worry since I've left, and I'm damned glad I never have to go back to that place!