The escape should have been immediately detected and prevented.
That’s what Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts said in a press release following the investigation into Wayne County Jail inmate Shawn Meachum.
Meachum escaped from the Wayne County Jail after posing as a weekend-only inmate, which prompted a search for the Geneva-area resident.
“The escape was only made possible because the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Jail Facility policies, procedures and protocols were not followed,” added Virts in a press release.
He says as result of the July 2nd incident, the shift sergeant resigned during the administrative investigation, to avoid disciplinary action for his “neglect of duty.”
The housing officer and booking room officer were served Notice of Discipline for their neglect. Each were suspended for 40 days without pay. They will also be forced to enter into a ‘Last Chance Agreement’ for a period of three years.
Virts says the main control officer has been served a Notice of Discipline for his neglect and will serve a 10 day suspension without pay.
Meacham had originally been charged with first-degree escape, and remains incarcerated at the Wayne County Jail.
Virts added, “I am extremely disappointed in the complacency and lack of attention to detail by each officer involved in this incident, however, we will move forward as a team so this does not happen again.”
Individual corrections officers will not be named, due to New York State CMI Rights Law.
