216 SE 'Corrections' Way
Lake City, Florida 32025
County: Columbia
(386) 758-8090
Suncom: 850-8090
FAX: (386) 755-1338
E-Mail: columbiaci@mail.dc.state.fl.us
Steven Singer, Warden
Chaplain's Office
(386) 758-8090
IS COLUMBIA, THE BEST FLORIDA HAS TO OFFER?
THE RUMOR MILL
I am going to present the following at this time as a rumor. If anyone reading this has any information on an inmate killing by guards at Columbia CI, please contact me,
Kay LeeTuesday, June 21, 2005
Re: Columbia CI
Good Morning Kay, I have some news from Columbia. I don't know if it's true or not but it sounds legit to me. If you put this on the web site, Please do not use my name.
My husband called. He is no longer at Columbia but you know how stories and such get around. Anyway he said there was an inmate at Columbia killed by a guard a couple of weeks ago. It had something to do with the inmate not closing the door when he came in from the rec yard. The CO got him to the floor and another CO jumped on his head I think but evidently it was hard enough to slam is head into the concrete floor and crack his skull. That's about all I know. I didn't know if you had heard anything.
Also I heard that at the work camp a Lieutenant was escorted off the compound. I don't know if he was arrested or not but that was supposedly regarding a sexual assault.
Boy the things that go on in this place. I can't believe it. Again I don't know how true all this is. But please don't use my name. Take care
RAPIST IN UNIFORM AT COLUMBIA CI?
I only have one comment on this mess. If Officer Golub did nothing wrong, if there is no reason for a cover-up, there is also no reason to mess with the inmate's mail or for the department employees to inject themselves in anyway between the prisoner and his outside contacts.
Looking Forward,
Kay LeeSaturday, January 07, 2006
OFFICER GOLUBIt is my understanding that Officer Golub will be leaving the department of corrections to embark upon a career in the Sheriff's department in 2006. I was also informed while living at Columbia that Officer Golub had tried to get a job with the Sheriff's department once before but was denied.
The Sergeant who told me this said that it was this failure on the part of Officer Golub to find employment with the Sheriff's department which led to his finding a job "beneath" him at Columbia. Officer Golub consistently came to work with the attitude that he had to throw his weight around. I personally witnessed on 2 separate occasions where he belittled and harassed 2 different female food service free-world employees to the point of tears (Ms. Evans and Ms. Brown).
I had a run-in with this man in the fall of 2004. I must tell you that everything turned out alright. A little background on me---I have done a considerable amount of time, and I know how to maneuver through the cesspools of the Florida Department of Corrections without getting myself hurt or killed. Trust me, I learned the hard way, but that's a whole other set of stories.
As I have said before, I was working in Food Service at Columbia CI one Saturday when I was informed that I had a visit. I was told by Officer Golub that I was needed to help the serving line throughout the lunch meal (this was after having completed my duties as produce clerk). Normally I would have left after my shift had ended--11 or 11:30, but on this particular day Officer Golub decided to show his ass and forced me to stay through lunch (which could last until 1:30).
After the visiting park called Food Service to find out where I was, Officer Golub denied me access to go back to the dorm to take a shower (After working a 9-hour day in a filthy kitchen). This was done out of either pure harassment or he was trying to cover his ass on the length of time that it took me to get to the visiting park.
Needless to say I was furious with this man, but I was not going to jeopardize my visit. I did get a little bit of satisfaction (chain gang style) when we both returned to work on the following Monday. I managed to have a face to face with Officer Golub with another inmate present (lookout) in which I informed Off. Golub that if he had a problem with me he needed to direct it toward me and not delay my visitors whenever they come again and that if he would like to test his authority or his manhood he could put down his radio and wear the worst beating of his life in the cooler.
With my coworker as a witness, I can say that Officer Golub is a pure coward. Nobody had to know anything --- I might even have let him hit me a few times. I never again had a problem out of the man. As a matter of fact, whenever he saw me he always had something to say. He is a pathetic, lonely, sorry human being.
Keep up the good work kaylee--slime fighter,
"Been There, Done That"
Thursday, December 09, 2004
FROM MTWT Guestbook: COLUMBIA CI
Kay Lee - what do you think it means?
"A few days ago I was over in Lake City with some freinds to see a movie when I saw a familiar face. He was working as private security in the theater. What was so strange about this is that he was wearing a d.o.c. issued Duty belt with a 38, mag holders, holster, and pepper spray. This familiar face was none other than Sgt. Lindboe, Aministative housing sergeant at Columbia CI - Who just so happens to live on state grounds at the facility. Just makes a person wonder about all the missing equipment that is quite possibly being used for personal gain by the same people entrusted to take care of it"
CURIOUS
NO ONE EVER SAID THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN
Unless you try to turn one of them in for not doing their job properly.
Lake City Reporter - Letter To The Editor
Sunday, June 26, 2005
http://www.lakecityreporter.com/articles/2005/06/26/opinion/letters/letter01.txt
COLUMBIA CI - CHIEF C/O ALAN WIMBERLEY
http://www.angelfire.com/oz/today/columbiapraise.html
COLUMBIA DEFENSE
To: kaylee1@charter.net
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2006 10:38 PM
Subject: Your siteKay,
I have been reading your site ever since I started working at Columbia CI. You have a lot of very wrong facts in most of your entries. In the four years that I have been there, no inmate has died from an officer beating him to death.
And Kevin Zicheck brought everything on himself with his attitude and lack of respect for anyone.
And most of all, I really resent the article that you put up about the letter that Coronel Wimberly put in the Lake City Reporter. That wonderful man passed away, but not out on an extended sick leave. His dream was to be a Coronel at Columbia and no matter how sick he got from the cancer, he never let it show. He continued to come to work and do an excellent job in a respectful manner until the very end. How dare you minimize someone life and letter of appreciation to his staff who supported him and showed him love.
If you only understood the abuse that we take from 90% of these inmates on a daily basis, you would not bad mouth all of us in a grouped manner. Inmates are constantly masturbating to our face, calling us obscene names, spitting in our faces, and threatening our lives and families on a daily basis when they don't get their way.
I hope that people that read your website take it with a grain of salt because most of what you are putting on this page is not fact based, only rumors.
Remember, very, very few of these inmates are innocent of the crimes they have been charged with. A lot of the inmates at Columbia CI are sexual predators or pedophiles and murders. Their victims have families too, who have suffered much more pain than these inmates will have in their lives.
The inmates do not realize how good they have it in prison, especially in comparison to other countries, but everyone fails to realize that. Investigate the treatments that they would get overseas in prison, then tell me if these petty allegations about sunglasses and threats are that bad.
They get three hot meals a day, better medical care than I get on the street for much less money, clothing, dental care, mental health care, free medications that can run thousands of dollars a month, and a roof over their heads. Yet, it is just not enough for them. That is a lot more than a lot of them would have on the streets.
I am not an officer at Columbia CI, I am medical staff, so yes, I know that a lot of the abuse charges written on your page are incorrect. These inmates have more rights and protection in prison that we do on the streets. Excessive force is not used in my DOC experience and I see it all. DOC is highly monitored for that sort of thing and the rules on security are strict and highly enforced.
Moral of the story, do not believe everything that someone tells you.
I ask that you please keep my name anonymus at this time. Thank You.
NOTE FROM THE COLUMBIA COUNTY JAIL
March 14, 2005: "The third inmate in the past year died last week in the local Columbia County Detention Center (Jail) just down the street from where I type this. This latest death was due to a Taser use. Columbia County deputies routinely tote Tasers and soon the Lake City Police Department's personnel will too.
The other two deaths occurred in that getting to be infamous "restraint chair." That's a favorite punishment used at our local establishment here. I suspect someone over there is probably stapped in it right now. And there's not just one of them chairs but several in the inventory. When placed in said chair you're shackled in like was shown but not for six hours like the movie said but for 12-16 hours! At least in Lake City's jail you are. This is not from personal experience thank God. I've been told you piss and shit yourself right where you're confined. You're not let up until your time is up. Period. End of discussion... Means: *Persons In Uniform."
ccsosro@yahoo.com That's Corporal Robert Johnson's e-mail address. He's the webmaster of this site: http://www.columbiasheriff.com/
"Private Al Carey, CSA,"
http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=190562&ck=
My son told me that they have got a new warden and he is starting something new that the inmates aren't allowed to keep their own underwear. They have to turn them all in to be washed and you get back Joe Blow's in another dorm and no telling what disease he may have. I just think it's ridiculous.
NOTE: January 2005: Although I haven't found the email yet I do believe this issue has been settled. I'll post the update when I find it. Kay Lee
To whom would I report broken public phones in a prison?
NOVEMBER 1, 2004: Good Morning Kay, I have a question for you. To whom in Tallahassee to I call to complain? I talked to my husband Sunday and the phones in his dorm have been broken for about 2 weeks. There has been phone tech's on the compound but they don't seem to come into his dorm. The only time he can call is when they are out in the yard and during that time nobody at my house is at home. It just aggravates me. I appreciate your help if you can provide any.
"I will relate my experience to you though at the Bay County CCA Annex. The carrier was AMTEL and I had to go all the way to the manager of the company before I got any action. Their phones stayed continuously out of order. The other problem was that after two calls they expected you to set up a pre-paid account. The problem was you didn't know that unless you contacted the company yourself.. After I complained to the AMTEL office, in writing stressing that they were losing money, they finally got things working correctly.
So, you need to know who is providing the service at that particular prison. My son's is through MCI. Here in Panama City, it's Amtel at the local jail."
Thursday, June 24, 2004
Columbia Correctional InstMTWT has received reports that an inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution in Lake City Florida died in confinement on either Wednesday, June 24 or Thursday, possibly of a heat stroke. We have not verified the report yet and that is where we need your help. If anyone has heard anything about the death on June 23rd or 24th of an inmate in confinement at Columbia CI, please contact Kay Lee at kaylee1@charter.net
Thank you for your help,
Kay Lee
Making The Walls Transparent
http://www.angelfire.com/fl4/prison
March 30, 2004 "I got word over the weekend that a few outside contractors came to Cross CI to talk to a lot of the Inmates there to offer them relocation closer to Jacksonville if they are willing to build their own prisons and have some background in construction. They are wanting inmates to work on Columbia's Annex. I guess they are back to building the annex again."
All I can say is, "Guys, don't go to Columbia CI. That place is a nasty piece of work!" Kay Lee
The Reason I'm Here....
A guard who admittedly works at Hamilton CI, has a friend working at Columbia CI. He thought my attempts to expose bad DOC employees was pretty funny and says, "I dare you to see what you can find out about Columbia. I got a friend working over there... Hahahaaa! and I wanna see what's going on ...." So I did...
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION FROM A VETERAN OFFICER
CAPTAIN MITCH BRANNEN: A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL?
June 27th, 2004: All we ask is professionalism. Instead we get more cover-ups and schemes to protect wrong-doers. The following report has created ripples that have possible led to illegal behavior on the part of Columbia CI staff. They may have quieted a couple of my sources, but there's more in line and I haven't posted half of what I have. So hang on to your hats and I will report the full story when lawyers are finished digging out the details. Remember, errant prison workers once thought it was funny to dare me to find information about Columbia CI...
I include the following bit of miscellaneous information only because Captain Brannen and Sgt. Martin are having their 'private' affair on public money. This is unprofessional and unacceptable to those of us who expect an officer's time in the prison to be productive and dignified. An affair on company time is also against the rules:
MIXING HIS HONEY WITH HIS MONEY
March 2004
Correctional Officers at Columbia CI have been wondering, "How can Captain Mitch Brannen be a positive role model and supervisor?" It's AMAZING how Captain Brannen expects his staff to conduct themselves professionally while he himself is setting a very poor example for his staff members. How can he keep correcting his officers when he is very indiscreetly doing wrong himself?
It has been reported that Capt. Brannen has been "fraternizing" with one of his Sergeants, namely Sgt. Janet Phillip Martin. They have been observed by more officers than they realize going into and coming out of the Medical Conference Room, fixing their clothing on numerous occasions, sometimes staying in there for hours at a time. Captain Brannen has been seen going back and forth to the sally port 2 to 3 times per day, staying for 45 minutes to an hour each time. He has been observed coming out of the sally port gates buttoning his clothing.
IT APPEARS THAT SGT. MARTIN IS RUNNING MORE THAN VEHICLES THROUGH THE SALLY PORT AREA. It has also been discovered that Sgt. Martin has glass products in the building, in the form of scented candles. According to conversations heard under the pavilion, EVERY OTHER SERGEANT THAT HAS EVER WORKED THAT GATE SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PRESENCE OF A "WHITE SHIRT" AS MUCH AS SGT. MARTIN HAS.
How can Captain Brannen have the slightest idea about what is going on within and around the compound, when he is so blindly occupied with Sgt. Martin? WHO NEEDS TO BE RETRAINED ON BEING A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL! This may explain why some of the other officers feel that they can do whatever they want (e.g. Sgt. Kent). It's always been said amongst the officers, "DON'T MIX YOUR HONEY WITH YOUR MONEY. IT BECOMES A STICKY SITUATION." ;
IT IS NOT HARD TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ALL OF COLUMBIA'S STAFFS' PERSONAL LIVES...STARTING WITH THE WARDEN DOWN. ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS TO SIT UNDER THE PAVILIONS...
And then I heard from a mother:
Kay Lee What do you know about Columbia C.I? I have heard horror stories of torture about that place 20 miles from FSP in Lake City. My loved one got transfered there this morning? Now I am crying.
So, I began with an email to the prison:
From: Kay Lee [mailto:kaylee1@charter.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2001 5:33 PM
To: Columbia Correctional Institution
columbiaci@mail.dc.state.fl.us
Subject: COLUMBIA CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONI need the name of the warden at your institution, please.
Kay Lee
And I got an answer:
From: Luther, Linda A.
To: 'Kay Lee'
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 8:38 AM
Subject: RE: COLUMBIA CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
Michael L. Rathmann, Warden
2004: The current warden is Michael McRae. Tom Patterson is the Assistant Warden, who seems to handle most of the warden's business.
COLUMBIA NOTES
"My Psych Level is 1 - One... I shouldn't even be here.
I haven't had a disciplinary report in 15 years and this place is run like a disciplinary institution."
February 10, 2004 Tuesday Night
This place - there is something wrong here definitely! I don't by any means condone the way this institution is run nor any of the practices of the staff here, which I'll touch base on later. In this environment, inmates are wrong and officers are right. That is the message that is conveyed from the moment you step off the bus and enter Columbia. I heard an officer make the statement more than once that "Columbia has it's own rules. Get used to it!"
Some of the staff here really seem to believe they have their own rules and are not governed by FAC33. When you enter this institution, one of the first things you hear from the Administrative Lieutenant is, "If one of my officers comes to me and says you did something, there's no talking about it, you're going to confinement."
The chaplains here are a total waste of time. They care very little about inmates or trying to help them.
This place is loaded with problems, and yes, people such as Officer Kent and Stencil need to be investigated, but it's not going to be done by inmates filing grievances because these people don't care. Only an outside investigation into the practices here would accomplish anything and people outside would have to have it done.
This is the worst run institution I've ever been at. This is a psych camp, meaning most here are on medication or their psych grade is II or III.
That's really all I can say. What you take from this is up to you. As I said, I don't agree with the way this place is run, but how you handle a given situation usually determines the outcome. Someone asks me about this place in general, or particular officers I've had dealings with, I'll give them an earful, but if they ask me to take a minor issue and turn it into something major, that's where I draw the line. Unfortunately, some people are not like me.
Then some families came to me:
From: Stingett
To: kaylee1@charter.net
Sent: Saturday, February 09, 2002 9:18 PM
Subject: guardshello kay
My baby called me tonight and we talked about your site. I read to him what you emailed me, and he said that he has some things to let you know about the inside of the prison he is in - Columbia CI.
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
Errant Guard Report:
NAMING Officer Lyle at Columbia CI
"Convicts and families are reporting on the atrocious behavior of Officer Lyle in the Visitors Park over the weekend of Feb. 7-8, 2004 at Columbia CI. They report on her EVERY week, but this incident is worth bringing up to the officials and posting online.
It seems the Visitors Park orderly, who is supposed to clean the VP, was fired on Friday, Feb 6. The Visitors Park was VERY CROWDED on Saturday. Every trash container was filled to overflowing, so, as family members would leave, and could not put their trash in the proper receptacles, they had to leave their cups, cans, etc. on the table, for the FIRST time ever. Usually family members and convicts are very proficient at cleaning up after themselves. They try very hard not to do ANYTHING that would hinder or prevent future visits.
As soon as ALL of the visitors were out of the room, in full view of MANY inmates waiting in line to be individually checked out and cleared to leave, Officer Lyle went down the rows of tables and swept all of the trash onto the floor. (She likes the dramatic effect of all of her keys and handcuffs clanging as she runs.) Sodas, left-over food, soiled paper towels, etc, made a big sloppy mess all over the floor. She acted like a spoiled child throwing a fit, and all of the inmates witnessed this behavior, but were afraid to say anything. Officer Lyle got off her shift at 4PM and left the mess, getting stickier on the floor by the hour.
The 4PM-midnight shift came and went. When the midnight-8AM Sunday morning shift reported for duty, Captain Vanflick, who is the night duty Captain, went into the VP and witnessed the disaster around 1 AM. He was aghast at the mess. He tried to find out who had done this, and who had not cleaned up. He finally awakened the "fired" VP orderly, who explained that he had been fired. The Captain made him and a few other inmates get up at 1AM to clean the VP for the morning visitors. He did not realize that one of his own officers made the mess in a fit of childish behavior, witnessed by MANY. SHAME on Officer Lyle, who portrayed like the visitors and inmates had done it!
On Sunday, Officer Lyle made a point of speaking down to the visitors and inmates as if they were kindergarteners, making MANY impromptu announcements, saying, "This is an adult prison (Hey, none of us knew that! So glad she pointed it out!). You need to pick up after yourselves. Put all of your trash in the containers." She must have thought everyone would forget what she said, because she made the announcement over and over ad nauseum...
Also, any male visiting Columbia Correctional Institution can go into the restroom alone, and leave alone. Officer Lyle seems to take GREAT JOY in making any female wait by the restroom for up to 45 minutes, and then she goes in with them and shakes them down, frisks, them, looks in their mouth, makes them shake out their bra, etc., etc., even if she just did that to them 5 minutes before on their way in.
Columbia is said to be the ONLY prison in FL where officers go in with every female to the restroom and put them through these humiliations several times during their visits. At least the other institutions don't treat the women as subhumans when they have to use the restroom.
The mess Officer Lyle made in full view of many people needs to be reported to the Warden, Assistant Warden, James Crosby, and other officials. She should not be allowed to get away with this very unprofessional behavior, although she does daily. Her goal in the VP weekly seems to be to make as many visitors and inmates as miserable as she can. She is not enough of a professional to be working in the VP.
She also bosses around the other officers and even the Sergeant in the VP, in front of all of the visitors and inmates. The other VP officers and the Sergeant have been nice and efficient lately, and should not have to put up with her unprofessionalism of cutting them down and telling them how to do their job, when they are more professional than she is, especially in front of other people. Maybe she needs to go back to posing in Biker magazines like she used to before she got hired to be a correctional officer a few years ago."
COPIES TO:
mcrae.michael@mail.dc.state.fl.us
crosby.james@mail.dc.state.fl.us
patterson.tom@mail.dc.state.fl.us
patterson.thomas@mail.dc.state.fl.us
berg.michael@mail.dc.state.fl.us
et al
UPDATE ON COLUMBIA CI VISITORS PARK AND OFFICER LYLE
THANK-YOU to the Warden and the Inspector for FINALLY letting the women visitors use the restroom in the VP without having a guard escort them in and frisk them each time they go to the restroom!
A visitor on Saturday, Feb. 21st, said that Officer Lyle was not working the Visitor’s Park that day. She was assigned to Outside Perimeter duty. Sgt. Highlander was on duty and in charge, and visitors and inmates alike shared that there was a nice, peaceful atmosphere that day. Seems like an ideal crew to run the VP.
It seems, however, that Officer Lyle has been carrying the MTWT story about herself and her behavior on Saturday, Feb. 7th, around with her, neatly folded, in her pocket. She has been seen sharing it with correctional officers who haven’t yet seen it, although they have all heard about it.
Another change that the higher-ups have accomplished is getting her to attach her keys to a handy plastic stretchy thing and keeping them in her pocket. That will definitely cut down on the clanging noise. She also has not been seen running, but walking like her fellow officers do when on duty.
Sgt. Ortega took the past weekend off, confiding in a few of his fellow-workers that he needed a break from Lyle. Although Sgt. Highlander usually works as a Building Officer, he stepped in and did a great job filling Ortega’s shoes for the weekend. Word has it, though, that even HE ended up outside on the patio by Sunday afternoon, commenting to a few that HE came outside to get away from Lyle for a few minutes! Bet he will be glad to get back to his regular post from here on out!
Since at least 40 people saw Officer Lyle throw her fit and throw the food and trash on the floor on Feb. 7th, and many have said they are willing to testify about it. It does make you wonder what in the world she told the Inspector about the incident when she was questioned about it…..
We do appreciate Sgt. Highlander (Building Officer) for being such a professional and doing such a good job over the weekend in the Visitors Park.
Then I found some prisoners:
|
Harry Mendoza |
Charles Jerry |
|
Victor
Cupp |
David
J Putterlik |
|
Michael A Kosek |
Rodney Araiza |
|
Willie Davis |
Kevin Zicheck |
| Michael Doyle Sgt Kent & 'the Investigation' |
*** Under Construction |
| *** Under Construction |
*** Under Construction |
| *** Under Construction |
*** Under Construction |
| *** Under Construction |
*** Under Construction |
FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION
Monday, February 16, 2004
Staff at Columbia CI Punishing ALL Inmates for Whistle-Blowing
Word has come in today from Columbia CI that the staff is tired of complaints on them to Tallahassee. The administration in Tallahassee are getting too many complaints from inmates and family members of inmates at Columbia about various things going on, and various "inappropriate" or "unprofessional" behavior on the part of staff.
Today inmates are being thrown into confinement left and right for not walking perfectly in single-file to the side of the yellow line; Inmates complain that their sinks had the water turned off all day after 8 AM, so they can't brush their teeth, wash their hands, etc. after lunch or after work, and the water in the toilets has been turned off!
The convicts want to know why they are being punished like this. Word on the compound is that they are ALL being punished for a few (unknown) who complained to Tallahassee, or whose families complained to Tallahassee. Something about "too many negative things up on the internet about Columbia CI." The majority of the inmates don't know how to use a computer or the internet, and they obviously have nothing to do with this!
Punishing people for reporting the wrong-doing of their keepers is totally unacceptable. We have standards that officers really have to adhere to and personally I am very disturbed when wardens and inspectors and administrators do nothing to insure their officers are doing what they are darn well supposed to do!
UPDATE ON THE SGT. KENT SITUATION
During the week of March 1-5, Sgt. Kent and another officer came out of the Inspector's Office in the Medical Building at Columbia CI. Sgt. Kent said to the officer, "I'm glad we've got our stories straight." Several people have reported seeing and hearing this.
Over the past several weeks, other inmates who have just been transferred out of Columbia CI to new institutions have reported that they have been called to speak with Inspectors regarding the Sgt. Kent situations while at their new institutions!
We applaud the Inspector General's office for continuing to pursue the truth in this matter, and we trust that a professional job is being done.
UPDATE ON SGT KENT and the COLUMBIA INVESTIGATION
...Then I talked to a few ex-employees:
Hello Kay, I am an ex-co and glad of it. I worked long and hard in Food Service at Columbia CI until I got fed up with the constant retaliation of the security co's against the food service co's! So many times officers were writing officer's up because theydisobeyed CH 33!
As soon as you allow yourself to care how inmates are treated on a daily basis, and to know in your heart it is totally wrong you must get out of the department!
Kay, you can use the info I emailed to you concerning my experience with DOC ...I will help in any way possible.
The mentality of some of the people that work DOC is screwed up. AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE!!!! I have more info about COL. CI but will relate to it at a later time.....
Thanks,
Anonymous For The Time Being
...And a few current officers:
UPDATE ON THE SGT. KENT SITUATION
March 2004
During the week of March 1-5, Sgt. Kent and another officer came out of the Inspector's Office in the Medical Building at Columbia CI. Sgt. Kent said to the officer, "I'm glad we've got our stories straight." Several people have reported seeing and hearing this.
Over the past several weeks, other inmates who have just been transferred out of Columbia CI to new institutions have reported that they have been called to speak with Inspectors regarding the Sgt. Kent situations while at their new institutions
We applaud the Inspector General's office for continuing to pursue the truth in this matter, and we trust that a professional job is being done.
What I see is a growing body of current and ex-guards who would have stayed if the conditions were truly rehabilitative. We have to refuse to protect the jobs of bad employees.
I am grateful to find one more person with the spirit of truth.
Thank you.
Kay Lee
...And then I talked to a few ex-prisoners:
COLUMBIA CI GOLD STAR OFFICERS:
Nominated by one who made it...
To tell you about myself since I got out: I got married first of all to a wonderful girl. Work -- I started digging up tree stumps for 25$ each, I worked to buy tools to make better money in home repair (which is what I have always done) and now I own a small business in IN. doing home repair and powerwashing. I am still on probation till 2006 but I find my own community service 20 hours a month. I do repair work for a senior center here and for anyone they feel needs it. I have also remodeled a church here all free. Needless to say I do a lot more than 20 hours a month.
I took the lessons taught to me by a SSgt. Station and aSSgt. Clyit at Columbia C.I. to heart. I learned more about good/bad right/wrong than in the past 34 years before. Maybe I lucked out and got some good officers, but it was up to me to learn, change, study and pass g.e.d., and stay out of trouble and this is being told by a man with Aryan tats all over chest, back, upper arms (all before arrested). I used to be a bad man. It was not easy to change, especially in prison. But if a Yankee in a southern prison can change, any body can.
I would love it if you could tell SSgt. Station and SSgt. Clyit how much I appreciate their help. I have often wanted to contact them myself, but I was concerned that I or they would get in trouble. I have no problems with e- mail address being given to either of them. I don't have problems with e-mail from anybody.
I know my greatest problem is my readiness for anger so I try to avoid those situations that cause rage/anger. It isn't easy and you can't avoid them all but I shore do try. I also got on your link to the officers web sight (lance) and wrote a letter about Station and Clyit .
Here is something funny or should I say surprising . I always think that everybody knows I used to be in prison so it is never a big deal to me when it's mentioned. But at Thanksgiving dinner there were some of my wife's family there I had never met. When we did the corny "what are you thankful for thing" of course I said I am thankful I am not still in prison and that the police aren't looking for me. You should of seen the look on their faces. They could not believe I had ever been locked up. They said I did not seem like the kind of person that could stick a gun at someone and rob them.
Now that's doing some changing! Before Aug.17 1995 no one in their right mind would get within 100 feat of me. Now since Jan. 10 2001 people can't even tell what I use to be like. Made me feel good. and if you need to nip and tuck my e-mail go right ahead, I know sentence stretcher is not my strong point.
I thank you for your e-mails and for your understanding. If you would like me to communicate with anyone or help in anyway please let me know.
John Doss
johndoss@earthlink.net
MTWT Hereby honors the nomination for
THE GOLD STAR OF PROFESSIONALISM for
SSGT STATION AND SSGT CLYIT of COLUMBIA CI.
Thank you, gentlemen, for a job well done.
...Then I got some letters:
"AIN'T NOTHIN' HAPPENIN' HERE!"
...And I read some articles:
QUARANTINED AT COLUMBIA?
ALERT Saturday October 4, 2003 3:10pm
SCHOOLS, BUDGETS, AND COLUMBIA'S ANNEX
And now we find out whose been naughty or nice:
Who are the 
Gold Star Staff?
and
Who is on the COLUMBIA CI
Probably 
ERRANT GUARD List
I haven't found out yet if Sgt. Sixtrump is still at Columbia... But I'm sure I will.
Could it be he is the current warden at Cross City CI?
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OFFICER DEVER |
SERGEANT KENT |
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From: Sistrunk, D. Rodney
To: 'Kay Lee'
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 8:08 AM
Subject: RE: CROSS CITY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
The Warden at Cross City Correctional Institution is D. Rodney Sistrunk.
Susan Morgan
UPDATE ON
UNION PLUMBERS' BOGUS ESCAPE ATTEMPT
THE 'SNITCH'
Nov-Dec 2003: It is reported that inmate Michael Gurken was removed from his confinement cell by three officers; C.O.Knight, C.O. Reckner & C.O. Gaylord. The three allegedly took him into the laundry room where they tried to "beat him down" but the two officers reportedly got hit instead and had to go home. The Captain said " just pretend it didn't happen."
Any reader with information about COLUMBIA CI, please contact me at kaylee1@charter.net
QUESTION:
During visiting hours at Columbia CI, inmates have to stand in a line and wait 15 minutes to use the bathroom. Why do guards have to go in the bathroom with the inmate and watch them use the restroom? If it is for security, couldn't they just check them outside the door, rather than standing over the toilet?
Several visitors have seen this happen during visiting hours at Columbia, but other prisons don't report the same procedure.
Is there a DOC rule that says guards have to stand over men when they use the toilet, or is this just one of the many 'rules' made up on the spot, different in every facility and on every shift?
November 20, 2002
KAY,
LOOK AT THIS! FLORIDA IS HAVING PROBLEMS NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GET THE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOLS, AND I PULLED THIS UP-
Department of Corrections Legislative Budget Request, FY 2003-2004 - Page A6
THE DOC IS WANTING 7.4 MILLION TO FINISH BUILDING COLUMBIA CI ANNEX. YOU KNOW THIS IS A JOKE... I AM WONDERING IF JEB IS GONNA REALLY LET THIS HAPPEN. HUMMM, I'M GONNA KEEP AN EYE ON THIS..
INFORMATION ON COLUMBIA CI FROM DOC WEBSITE:
County: Columbia
Historical Information: This facility was established in 1992 and houses adult male inmates. It is designated to accept minimum, medium, close custody and all medical grade inmates. Columbia C.I. provides academic, vocational and self-betterment programs. Columbia Work Camp and Lake City Community Correctional Center are under the supervision of Columbia C.I. An annex is under construction and will house adult male close management inmates.
Total Staff (on 1/01): 445
Total Capacity (on 1/01): 1,188
Designated Confinement Space: YesDirections: From I-75, take the Hwy 90 exit at Lake City. The Institution is located 6 miles east of Lake City on US-90. From I-10, take the US-90 exit at Sanderson. Go west 11 miles.
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