If you have not heard yet, there is a hostage situation going on as we speak, at a Prison in Buckeye. Inmates, attacked guards, and stole their guns. THe inmates are now holding guards hostage. It has been going on since 5am Sunday morning.
Due to this situation....ALL jails and prisons are on Lockdown until further notice. I called Durango, and spoke to a sheriff and he informed me of this. I will update this post if there is any further info......

Yes, I am in Arizona and following the news on this. It scares me to death, I hope that no one ends up getting killed. Such a terrible situation - I can't imagine how they were able to get into and armed tower. We need to pray for a peaceful resolution.

The news said they overpowered guards elsewhere before they took over the tower. I even saw it on our local news last night here in Oregon, which surprised me. Please keep us posted about what happens. It's on MSNBC now and then, but they're more interested in reporting on politics than anything this morning.

To make matters worse, 5 a.m. would be the "graveyard" shift, which is usually staffed by the most junior officers, he said.

"Your career employees that have been there for five, 10, 15 years, they know what to look for," Masella said. "People are applying for this job who shouldn't be working at Sonic burger joints, and are being hired by the Department of Corrections because of low pay. You get what you pay for."
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0119prison19.html

I must say......I have a bit of a devilish grin. ;)


The uprisings we will see in the future if serious prison reforms aren't enacted soon, will make Attica and New Mexico seem like a school yard scuffle.

ridehardlivefree - I am smiling along with ya! :ha: :ha: :ha:

3 in the afternoon and still a stand off. I hope it ends soon.

I dont like a bit

The problem with something like this is that, even if you don't have a loved one involved with it, these things can get really nasty and a whole lot of people locked up inside can get hurt or killed, not to mention more staff being hurt or killed. So feeling smug about the low pay attracting people who aren't capable of handling the job isn't really something I can muster up.

Two things... First, I am inclined to agree with toi ama - I can't muster up much enthusiam about the low pay issue myself, and...

Second, Mr. Masella was also quoted as saying: "Once these inmates get a taste of blood, so to speak, there's no telling what they can do." Does anyone besides myself have a problem with that statement???

No, I don't have a problem with that statement because, for that certain percentage of inmates, it's a true statement. We may be waiting out here for guys in on non-violent, maybe drug charges or one-time drug induced violence, but there are people in there who belong there and who are quite definitely bloodthirsty individuals by nature. They'd run amok if they got the chance right there inside.

Winyan and Toi - I wasn't "smiling" because of the comment about the low pay - I am worried sick about what is happening there. The reason I was feeling a little "I told you so" is that in Arizona, as Winyan knows, our politicians are always shoving prison reform on the back burner, they don't believe in investing any money into the prison to reduce overcrowding - they don't believe in improving the living conditions of the inmates or offering more education programs or reducing recivism (sp). Our prisons are grossly overcrowded and desperately lacking in staffing (especially qualified staffing). I am hoping that this is a wake up call to all the politicians out there right now (with elections just around the corner) - that you "get what you pay for"! If they aren't going to invest any money into the prison system, then they need to face the consequences - which is major under-staffing and underqualified guards which not only put the lives of their employees at risk, but the lives of the inmates. But please don't think I was in anyway undermining what is happening right now. I am praying for the safety of the guards and the inmates, but a part of me does say - "I told you so".

I really agree that they do need to raise the pay and the educational and training requirements for staff. If you don't pay a person enough that they take an interest in doing their job well in order to keep the job, and to give them some pride in their profession, then you're not going to get anyone who is a professional at heart, if that makes sense. I think the training requirements should be that you do your job in a dispassionate, non-prejudiced manner or you get fired or demoted. I know that can be hard, because you do get jaded after awhile in there, but if a person starts to burn out, then they should be relieved of that duty and moved to another area. Working in a prison is a hard, demanding, draining, dangerous and thankless job and if your pay scale scrapes the bottom of the barrel then all you're going to get is the dregs of the work force to take the job.

I really agree that they do need to raise the pay and the educational and training requirements for staff. If you don't pay a person enough that they take an interest in doing their job well in order to keep the job, and to give them some pride in their profession, then you're not going to get anyone who is a professional at heart, if that makes sense. I think the training requirements should be that you do your job in a dispassionate, non-prejudiced manner or you get fired or demoted. I know that can be hard, because you do get jaded after awhile in there, but if a person starts to burn out, then they should be relieved of that duty and moved to another area. Working in a prison is a hard, demanding, draining, dangerous and thankless job and if your pay scale scrapes the bottom of the barrel then you won't get tip top people to fill the jobs. Now, I don't mean any disrespect to any prison staff who might be reading this, because I think the majority of staff try very hard to do their job well and professionally. I just think better pay and higher standards would cut out the ones who can't live up to their job.

There's that danged 10 characters long crap again! So ten characters this------! LOL

Two things... First, I am inclined to agree with toi ama - I can't muster up much enthusiam about the low pay issue myself, and...

Second, Mr. Masella was also quoted as saying: "Once these inmates get a taste of blood, so to speak, there's no telling what they can do." Does anyone besides myself have a problem with that statement???
Isn't that like calling them animals? Short of calling them a Pit Bull DOGS :fb: I thought that was so uncalled for shame on him maybe he was trying to start a BIG RIOT if the men inside hear what they expect of them :argh

Maybe he shouldn't have said it, but it's not a slam on the whole population. He's just probably referring to the element who are really like that. I'm sure right now there are an awful lot of guys just hoping it resolves soon and that nothing else radical is done by any of the inmates. They locked all the prisons down, though, so there's probably not much danger anything else will happen. Maybe guys getting irritable with cellies or something.

Winyan and Toi - I wasn't "smiling" because of the comment about the low pay - I am worried sick about what is happening there. The reason I was feeling a little "I told you so" is that in Arizona, as Winyan knows, our politicians are always shoving prison reform on the back burner, they don't believe in investing any money into the prison to reduce overcrowding - they don't believe in improving the living conditions of the inmates or offering more education programs or reducing recivism (sp). Our prisons are grossly overcrowded and desperately lacking in staffing (especially qualified staffing). I am hoping that this is a wake up call to all the politicians out there right now (with elections just around the corner) - that you "get what you pay for"! If they aren't going to invest any money into the prison system, then they need to face the consequences - which is major under-staffing and underqualified guards which not only put the lives of their employees at risk, but the lives of the inmates. But please don't think I was in anyway undermining what is happening right now. I am praying for the safety of the guards and the inmates, but a part of me does say - "I told you so".
They have to live in Tents when its 120 outside then they spray them off with a fire hose like in the planet of the apes. I think Joe lives well on all the money he saves he should share with his staff they are doing all the work he just likes to bark orders only if he has the tv or news team in his face I feel sorry when he crosses over and has to talk to the big boss above maybe God will put him on a chain gang and make him eat green meat from dead dogs next door at the pound who have to be put to sleep! thats how he makes cheap meals. saving tax payers money YA right!!!

You know, that's one guy who I feel needs to be locked up worse than the people who are in prisons and jails down there. I can't believe that he actually gets away with blatantly doing what he does with the prisoners down there. They wouldn't let a person put dogs outside in tents in that weather like he does.

To clear it all up, I really wasn't grinning about the low pay and the inability of many of the staff in the prison system to bag an order of fries at MicDee's. Although that is a reality. As much as we all hate to see any type of trouble in an institution, the fact is, it is going to take many more before anything changes. One reason that the prisons are filling up with non-violent-first timers is just that, they are non-violent and easy to control. They can lock up millions of non-violent young people and never hear a peep out of them. The states and the feds plan to build many more of these prisons to lock up non-violent people to continue to feed the bureaucracy. They love creating all these government jobs, low paying government jobs. So yes, I grin when it backfires on them as is the case now unfolding in Arizona.
I have some first hand experience with these fast-food, can I take your order guards. I saw a mini riot as soon as the doors were racked one morning. Body alarms were screeching and the guards came running. I watched these three big guards strom into the common area where the fights were taking place and they turned right around and ran back out the door leaving ONE female guard right in the middle of the flying pool balls and locks in socks. She was all of four foot nuttin and 110 pounds and she got left ALONE to control a riot. Well, when the big bad guards took off and left her they were so scared that they left the door open and now the riot was no longer contained to a single housing unit but had made it to the yard and the chow hall. The S.O.R.T. team did arrive and retake control but it was hilarious to see these low paid guards find out what could really happen on the inside and just what they were getting into for their nine dollars an hour. That wasn't the only time I saw a situation unfold such as that, it just happens that, that took place in Tuscon,Arizona. Hopefully that explains my grin. If the states and the feds had to pay a good wage to staff these prisons with good competent people, they wouldn't be able to afford to continue to build this silly prison bureaucracy.
Disclaimer: Please know that I meant no offence to all the fine people that make their living from the fast food industry.

I agree with the overcrowding part. When my fiance first went to county jail, he didnt have a bed for about the first month. He had to sleep on the floor. And now, he said that it has gotten worse again. There are only supposed to be a certain amount of people to one POD, and he said that there are over 100 in his. People sleeping on the dirty, cold, hard floors. It is so inhumane.
Then there is the spider problem they have in there. Its the Brown Recluses. The deadly ones. Another inmate got bit by one, one night and they basically did nothing about it.......while this guys celly, got bit by a brown recluse, not once but two times.....and he tried to go to medical, but they didnt let him or something.....which then his nice spider bite turned out to be something life threatening. I think it was when he popping the spider eggs out of his leg, where his bite was, that they actually took it a little more serious......
It makes me sick....I wish that I could for just one night, or not even that.....maybe just an hour....but I would love to go take a tour of the jail that my baby is in....so that I would have some idea as to what he is going thru in there......It is so hard, not knowing....
I guess today they are able to use the phones again.....Im hopin that wednesday I can go see my baby...

I know nothing of Az prisons except that my step son was allowed to parole home to Florida when he got out.....I sae the news report on MsNBC and my heart sank.....My prayers go out to everyone involved, inmates, staff, and families.....Judy

Well, it is 6 AM now and still at a standoff - entering day 3, but things are calm at the moment. I guess we just keep on praying.

I'm too located in Arizona is too my boyfriend is in Barchey in Lewis...
His release date is this Thursday the 22nd..and they are not sure if they are gonna release him at this point :( ??

This is a very not only to his family and I, but can imagine what's going on in his mind?

I'm too located in Arizona is too my boyfriend is in Barchey in Lewis...
His release date is this Thursday the 22nd..and they are not sure if they are gonna release him at this point ??

This is a very scary not only to his family and I, but can imagine what's going on in his mind?
__________________
Angela

Hi hon. I am sorry to hear this but we will pray for the best outcome and dont think the worse. Lots of love and a big big hug (((((((h))))))

aWW, Thanks I so needed that..... Just got some good news from his Mother..she just called down there and "Yes" he is getting out Thursday....but we have to pick him up at the PD..at not knowing the time..as too the old plan was right there at the Prisin at 8:00am on the dot!

I am so happy for you - congrats and I bet you have a lot of butterflies in your belly already :D Love and a big hug

Day 3!!! Those guys surely must know they can't win and make good on the escape. It's just a matter of time till they have to give up. I wonder how long they'll humor these guys along. My guess is that if they start making threats to harm the guards and they're serious threats, then the SWAT people will have to move fast. I'm so sorry for the families and loved ones of all concerned!

Angela! Hooray!!!!! I'm glad this hasn't affected his release. Nice to hear some GOOD news!!!

I just spoke with the Warden's Sec in Yuma, she said they ARE NOT in lock down and as far as she knows only Lewis Prison where the hostage situation is going on is in lockdown, all units there, but no other prisons.

Just when I think my son has it bad, I hear from y'all and know it could be worse. The prison he is in is warm in the winter and air conditioned in the summer.

Actually my fiance's jail was also on lockdown for a day. There was no vivitation the day it happened because of it. Now he is saying that they still won't give them their razors for shaving because of that stuff. The county jails were all on lockdown that first day.Not no more.

I completely agree with Cherry about Mr. Masella's statement. It was uncalled for. He didn't say "these violent offenders" he said "these inmates" which to the public reffers to ALL of them. And even not all of the violent offenders are blood thirsty. All he's doing is stirring fear in the public and fostering the stigma that we are already subject to being loved ones of inmates.
And anyway, if we didn't have 5000 inmates without beds in out state who are sleeping on the floors of libraries and other non-secure, places this wouldn't have happened. Not to mention we are 24% understaffed on security. I'm not scratching my head trying to figure out what caused this situation.

There was just a little segment on MSNBC about the standoff. They said that the guards seem to be okay and that the demands from the inmates have been minimal----like for food or coffee. And that the negotiations are continuing.

Another update for interested parties - 5:00 PM Arizona Time, hostage situation is still at a standstill. It has been going on for 84 hours now with no end in sight. At least yesterday the two CO's were physically seen on the stairway of the tower and appeared okay. Today one inmate shot off a gas canister outside the tower, but other than that, no more news.

My prayers are still with everyone involved. I just hope it can be resolved soon.

I am So sorry to hear this is going on!! I too am praying for a good outcome of all this!! My prayers are with the families of these people involved!! I hope they come to a resolution soon. This is SO darn sad!!

((((Hugs)))) to all you people in Arizona!!

Stacy

Middle Ground is going to conduct an organized vigil outside of the Lewis Prison Complex on Friday evening, January 23, 2004 beginning promptly at 9 p.m. Our purpose, to be expressed quietly and with signs (which we will bring with us or which you can make on your own) is to let the media, prison officials and the pubic know that we are praying not just for the hostages, but for the hostage-takers, too. The situation and living conditions in Arizona's prisons has gotten so bad that these men have taken these desperate measures -- and they must know by now the consequences for them -- to attempt to bring some attention We don't argue that their actions are appropriate or even effective. In fact, from the news coverage and "buzz" thus far, it appears that the hostage situation has bolstered the "status" of prison guards as some type of forgotten heroes, when all of us know what truly goes on most of the time in prison. BRING A CANDLE AND A CARDBOARD PROTECTER WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CANDLE TO BURN IF IT IS WINDY.

Thus far in the media coverage of this tragedy, the only kind or humane sentiments that have been expressed have been directed toward the safe resolution for the hostages. We, too, share concern for their safety. But the two men involved are human beings, too. Who knows what might have happened if either one of them had received any true rehabilitation while they were in prison? Neither one of them have much to lose -- one of the men is serving a life sentence now, and has six (yes, six) consecutive life sentences to serve after the current one, and the other man is serving several concurrent 20-year sentences, with no possibility of release until 2018. Now, both of them -- if they live through this situation -- will serve the rest of their lives in SMU II and will be at the mercy of prison staff who will be retaliatory and vengeful for the embarrassing standoff. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time in prison history that prison inmates have taken over a guard tower and remained in control for this length of time.

We aren't sure yet where we will end up standing for the vigil because we don't know if the media/press area (which appears from TV to be somewhere down the road and/or across the street from the prison complex) will also be an area where we can stand with our signs and candles. But, when you first arrive in the area, go to the location where the media trucks and antenna towers are parked. It will be easy to spot. We will try to have a MIDDLE GROUND PRISON REFORM banner or sign on our vehicle so that you can spot us.

It is important that this vigil (it is not a demonstration) be orderly and appropriate. If you are the family member of someone at Lewis, and especially of someone at the Morey Unit where the hostage situation is unfolding, you can make your sign say, "Honey, my prayers are with you." If the media speak to you, you are not required to give the name of your loved one unless you agree to do so. You have a First Amendment right to organize (peacefully) for a vigil.

The signs should say things like: I'M PRAYING FOR THE FOUR OF THEM, AND NOT JUST THE TWO OF THEM.

PRISON STAFF ESCALATED THIS PROLEM WITH BREACHES OF SECURITY

WE CARE ABOUT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE CRISIS -- INCLUDING
THE HOSTAGE-TAKERS

THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF THE PRISON SYSTEM WAS HUMANE

. . . and so on.


Dress warm, including gloves. Bring a bottle of water to keep in your car. Bring matches, lighter and a cardboard cutout so that dripping candle wax won't burn your hand. Your signs can be made on poster board in large letters, or printed on a clean piece of paper with a black (thick) marking pen.

James and I will make sure that nothing you do will cause any law enforcement person to have reason to arrest. Arizona law states that you are not permitted to communicate verbally or in writing with INMATES who are in the community (such as on work details or chain gangs) and we won't have access to any prison inmates anyway But we are permitted to communicate in lawful assembly (but not on private property or on the prison grounds) to express our views to the public or to prison staff.

We will be leaving this computer at about 7:30 p.m. Friday night, so please let us know if you plan to attend. We will plan to stay from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. or so. We'd like at least 20 - 50 people to volunteer for this message

Donna Leone Hamm
Executive Director
Middle Ground Prison Reform

Thanks for your hard work Donna!!!

My husband is in Lewis Prison. I got a letter from him today, so at least mail is going in and out of there. They are watching it all on the news, same as us. I don't think the guards capability or quality of pay should really be the issue right now. I think "damn! she's gets paid less than teachers do and has to go through this?". I am so thrilled they let one guard go & pray for her release. I am wondering what the inmates that took her hostage want out of all this - the news is being very secretive about it.

I am just now hearing about this. It is terrible to hear that something like this is going on. I am offended by the statement made above (the one generalizing all "inmates") and don't believe that is was necessary or truthful at all.

When it was stated that ALL prisons were on lockdown, do you mean all prisons in the area of the one that this is happening in (Arizona), or.. ALL prisons nationwide? Reason I ask is because, I got a call from my man who is in USP Leavenworth (Kansas) just a few hours ago and.. he didn't mention any lockdown or drama to me at all. So, I don't know.

I pray that things get resolved with this somehow and soon. But, in the end, it will be the inmates that pay, regardless of who did and who did not participate, and regardless of the reasons for participation. Its a sad situation for all parties involved.

I am just now hearing about this. It is terrible to hear that something like this is going on. I am offended by the statement made above (the one generalizing all "inmates") and don't believe that is was necessary or truthful at all.

When it was stated that ALL prisons were on lockdown, do you mean all prisons in the area of the one that this is happening in (Arizona), or.. ALL prisons nationwide? Reason I ask is because, I got a call from my man who is in USP Leavenworth (Kansas) just a few hours ago and.. he didn't mention any lockdown or drama to me at all. So, I don't know.

I pray that things get resolved with this somehow and soon. But, in the end, it will be the inmates that pay, regardless of who did and who did not participate, and regardless of the reasons for participation. Its a sad situation for all parties involved.
Just Lewis prison is locked down. The first day it happen on a sunday they locked down all prisons just in Arizona for one day they are not on lock down anymore. wish this would end :fb:

Here's the latest story on this situation from the AP newswire. . .

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-prison-hostages,0,3237076.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Arizona Hostage Crisis Taking Toll on Some

By ANANDA SHOREY
Associated Press Writer

January 26, 2004, 2:49 PM EST

BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- A hostage situation at an Arizona prison began to take its toll on staff Monday as authorities negotiated for a ninth straight day for the release of a guard being held by two inmates.

Supervisors had difficulty persuading some workers to go home as the situation dragged on, said Sgt. M. Ball, who helps state prison employees deal with stress during crises.

"They're frustrated, tired and they want this to be over," Ball said. "This hits close to home. This is our worst nightmare."

Two guards at Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis were taken prisoner Jan. 18 and forced into a watchtower. One of the guards was released Saturday. Officials have declined to identify the inmates and the guards or to say what the inmates are demanding.

Overnight negotiations have been quieter in recent days, said state corrections spokeswoman Cam Hunter. One inmate continued a daily routine Monday of walking around the tower's observation deck and leaning over to look down its sides.

Negotiators last spoke on Sunday with the correctional officer still being held hostage and the guard indicated that she was OK.

Actually the lock down situation is only applying to the Jail and Lewis - unfortunately Joe Arpaio has found another band wagon to jump on for publicity. My friend at Perryville still calls and gets visits. My old-man at Douglas can still call and get visits but my son at Durango jail cannot get visits or make phone calls. It think it's crazy that the county run jails put this restriction on their inmates while the prisons have not. Just venting because I can't see my son - it's crazy.

my man is in Lancaster and they may be down cause I didnt get a call from him today can someone tell me if this effect all Calif Prisons

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-prison-hostages,0,3237076.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Officials Contact Hostage at Arizona Prison

By LYNN DUCEY
Associated Press Writer

January 27, 2004, 6:01 AM EST

BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- A prison guard held hostage inside a watch tower by a pair of inmates sent a message that she is alive in her latest contact with authorities.

The wellness check Monday was done by either radio or telephone and negotiators heard the guard's voice, said Ivan Bartos, the Yuma prison warden who has been assisting Department of Corrections officials.

No other details were immediately available.

The voice contact was at least the fourth time negotiators have spoken with the officer over the course of the ordeal at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis west of Phoenix.

Two guards at the prison were taken prisoner Jan. 18 and forced into a watchtower. A male guard was released Saturday. Officials have declined to identify the inmates and the guards or to say what the inmates are demanding.

Bartos said the male guard remained hospitalized for observation and did not suffer any life-threatening injuries.

The standoff began about 5 a.m. on Jan. 18 after an inmate attacked a guard in a kitchen area. That prisoner and another inmate then got into an observation tower where the two guards were stationed.

The guard tower, in the middle of the prison grounds, is believed to be stocked with weapons.

Corrections department staff across the state prison system began wearing yellow ribbons Monday in a sign of solidarity with the remaining hostage.

"Negotiators are working as hard as humanly possible," Bartos said. "We have a life in the balance. We are going to everything we can to get that person back to their family."

Well I finally got to go see my baby yesterday. Monday was the first day that they had visits, since all this started. My finace is also in Durango, so u can go visiting there now. They have not been able to get visits till today, but they got to use the phones and stuff, the second day all this started.
Officials are getting worried now, since they have not seen the female officer since the other one was released. Hoping that everything is okay.....

My prayer is that this all ends peacefully and soon! I don't know what these two inmates hope to accomplish, my thoughts and prayers are with that female CO alone up there. I can't imagine the fear and uncertainty she & her family is experiencing right now. Hopefully the two men involved are smart enough to know that killing her will cost them their lives. My greatest fear is that they will kill her then them selves, in this no win situation. I think they know & fear the repercussions of their actions. If they have any sense, they’re in contact with national news programs, someone that will monitor their safety when they give up. Cause Lord knows their in for a beating by her fellow CO’s.

Middle Ground is going to conduct an organized vigil outside of the Lewis Prison Complex on Friday evening, January 23, 2004 beginning promptly at 9 p.m. Our purpose, to be expressed quietly and with signs (which we will bring with us or which you can make on your own) is to let the media, prison officials and the pubic know that we are praying not just for the hostages, but for the hostage-takers, too. The situation and living conditions in Arizona's prisons has gotten so bad that these men have taken these desperate measures -- and they must know by now the consequences for them -- to attempt to bring some attention We don't argue that their actions are appropriate or even effective. In fact, from the news coverage and "buzz" thus far, it appears that the hostage situation has bolstered the "status" of prison guards as some type of forgotten heroes, when all of us know what truly goes on most of the time in prison. BRING A CANDLE AND A CARDBOARD PROTECTER WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CANDLE TO BURN IF IT IS WINDY.

Thus far in the media coverage of this tragedy, the only kind or humane sentiments that have been expressed have been directed toward the safe resolution for the hostages. We, too, share concern for their safety. But the two men involved are human beings, too. Who knows what might have happened if either one of them had received any true rehabilitation while they were in prison? Neither one of them have much to lose -- one of the men is serving a life sentence now, and has six (yes, six) consecutive life sentences to serve after the current one, and the other man is serving several concurrent 20-year sentences, with no possibility of release until 2018. Now, both of them -- if they live through this situation -- will serve the rest of their lives in SMU II and will be at the mercy of prison staff who will be retaliatory and vengeful for the embarrassing standoff. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time in prison history that prison inmates have taken over a guard tower and remained in control for this length of time.

We aren't sure yet where we will end up standing for the vigil because we don't know if the media/press area (which appears from TV to be somewhere down the road and/or across the street from the prison complex) will also be an area where we can stand with our signs and candles. But, when you first arrive in the area, go to the location where the media trucks and antenna towers are parked. It will be easy to spot. We will try to have a MIDDLE GROUND PRISON REFORM banner or sign on our vehicle so that you can spot us.

It is important that this vigil (it is not a demonstration) be orderly and appropriate. If you are the family member of someone at Lewis, and especially of someone at the Morey Unit where the hostage situation is unfolding, you can make your sign say, "Honey, my prayers are with you." If the media speak to you, you are not required to give the name of your loved one unless you agree to do so. You have a First Amendment right to organize (peacefully) for a vigil.

The signs should say things like: I'M PRAYING FOR THE FOUR OF THEM, AND NOT JUST THE TWO OF THEM.

PRISON STAFF ESCALATED THIS PROLEM WITH BREACHES OF SECURITY

WE CARE ABOUT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE CRISIS -- INCLUDING
THE HOSTAGE-TAKERS

THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF THE PRISON SYSTEM WAS HUMANE

. . . and so on.


Dress warm, including gloves. Bring a bottle of water to keep in your car. Bring matches, lighter and a cardboard cutout so that dripping candle wax won't burn your hand. Your signs can be made on poster board in large letters, or printed on a clean piece of paper with a black (thick) marking pen.

James and I will make sure that nothing you do will cause any law enforcement person to have reason to arrest. Arizona law states that you are not permitted to communicate verbally or in writing with INMATES who are in the community (such as on work details or chain gangs) and we won't have access to any prison inmates anyway But we are permitted to communicate in lawful assembly (but not on private property or on the prison grounds) to express our views to the public or to prison staff.

We will be leaving this computer at about 7:30 p.m. Friday night, so please let us know if you plan to attend. We will plan to stay from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. or so. We'd like at least 20 - 50 people to volunteer for this message

Donna Leone Hamm
Executive Director
Middle Ground Prison Reform

Can you give us an update on how this went donna?


E

Yeah, this whole thing is very scary .. my love is home and safe! God Bless us all!

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-prison-hostages,0,3237076.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Ariz. Prisons Staff Rally Around Hostage

By LYNN DUCEY
Associated Press Writer

January 27, 2004, 10:44 AM EST

BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- Workers from other prisons around Arizona are donning yellow ribbons and volunteering to fill in at a prison that has been under lockdown for more than a week while a guard is being held hostage, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Two inmates have been holed up since Jan. 18 in a guard tower, believed to be stocked with weapons, at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis just west of Phoenix.

One of the two guards in the tower was released Saturday. The other, a woman, was still being held hostage Tuesday but had been allowed to speak to prison officials.

The prison remains in lockdown, meaning the other 4,400 inmates of the medium- to high-security facility are being allowed little movement outside their cells.

That has shifted much of the workload normally carried by inmates to staff members, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Cam Hunter. Inmates' work duties range from laundry to cleaning to kitchen work.

"There is a huge work force that hasn't been working," Hunter said.

To help alleviate the strain on the staff, officers from other prisons have volunteered to take over shifts and to make meals for the families of Lewis employees, Hunter said.

Staff members elsewhere in the state also started wearing yellow ribbons Monday in a sign of solidarity with the remaining hostage.

Negotiators last talked to the guard in the tower on Monday, but prison officials gave no details on their conversation with her.

A male correctional officer, who had been on duty with the woman, was released Saturday afternoon. He did not suffer any life-threatening injuries and was able to climb a ladder down from the three-story tower.

The Department of Corrections has not identified the guards or the inmates, or said what the inmates are demanding.

I am so very concerned for this lady. She has been in my prayers since I learned of her situation.

Although I don't live in Arizona, I can feel for all of you. This is a horrible situation and does nothing but give the politician's more reason to come up with more laws involving mandatory sentencing. The conditions you describe in the prison's there are similar to what we deal with here in Fl. and I fear that it's just a matter of time before we are sharing the same type of ordeal. My prayers and thoughts are with everyone involved and hope they can find a way to end this safely and that the female officer is not harmed in any way. I also pray that the inmates involved are not so hardened as to "take advantage of the situation" and they also come out of this safely and without the physical retribution that seems to be so common. I live in a state where it has already been proven that a guard can get away with murder, literally. I pray this is not the case in Arizona.

I don't live in Arizona, nor do I have a loved one incarcerated there, but I feel for everyone involved. When my husband was in prison (in another state away from me), I made it "my job" to keep an eye out for any news articles remotely concerning prison issues, because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. I don't think many here would disagree that one of THE worst things dealing with the prison system - anywhere - is when you don't have any (or enough) information. I hope these news reports help! Here's the latest I found this morning from the AP newswire.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-prison-hostages-negotiations,0,7889007.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Group Sees Good in Pace of Ariz. Standoff

By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer

January 28, 2004, 4:20 AM EST

BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- The long, drawn-out nature of an 11-day prison hostage crisis may actually help authorities achieve a peaceful end, experts say.

Patience and careful negotiation have already freed one prison guard at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis on the western edge of Phoenix, and officials are communicating with the remaining captive corrections officer.

"Traditionally, the longer the situation lasts, the more likely the situation is to have peaceful resolution," said Max Howard, a retired FBI negotiator and special agent.

As time goes by, hostage-takers can become tired and disappointed. When emotions decline, the captors' rational thinking increases, said Howard, who is not involved in the current standoff.

Two inmates and their hostage have been holed up since Jan. 18 in a guard tower, believed to be stocked with weapons. Negotiators have been in constant contact with the tower by phone.

Tony Oldham, a retired FBI special agent and negotiator, said the release of one hostage Saturday, continued talks and opportunities for officials to see or speak with the remaining guard are positive signs.

"It appears to me the way it's moving, it's very successful," said Oldham, who is not involved in the standoff. "Let's be patient and it will work itself out."

On Tuesday night, negotiators were again able to secure a glimpse of the female hostage, at least the fifth time they have either spoken or seen her over the course of the ordeal at the 4,400-inmate medium- to high-security prison.

"She looks to be OK," said Ivan Bartos, the Yuma prison warden who has been assisting state Department of Correction officials.

Unlike a hostage crisis on the street, the standoff within the Buckeye prison poses additional challenges. After all, the prison and reinforced tower are built to both keep people in and others out, Howard said.

"They build them so well that law enforcement can't do anything about it," he said. "Tactical teams can't go in, not that they would necessarily want to use force."

The degree of danger that hostages face can be influenced by the interaction they had with the inmates before the standoff and the relationship that forms while captive, Howard said.

Psychologists have noted that hostages often bond with their captors. But that bond is less likely to develop among prisoners and their guards, Howard said.

"Law enforcement officers make some of the world's worst hostages. They're opposing their enemy and vice versa," Howard said. "You have cats and dogs thrown together."

Officials also must keep from giving the inmates concessions that might be seen by other inmates as an incentive to take hostages, said Paul Sutton, a criminal justice professor at San Diego State University who worked with the Attica Commission after a deadly hostage situation and siege at the New York prison in 1973.

While the Buckeye inmates' demands haven't been made public, inmates in past standoffs have asked for everything from better pay to more visitation opportunities to their release, Sutton said.

"That's the ultimate goal for any inmate... freedom," Sutton said. "It was probably made clear early on that wasn't going to happen."

* __

On the Net:

Arizona Department of Corrections: http://www.adc.state.az.us

video-------> http://www.azcentral.com/

video-------> http://www.azcentral.com/
If you have a Real Player------> http://www.azfamily.com/cgi-bin/video/G2redirect.pl?title=5684457&vsect.news

I received a letter from my ol' man yesterday - he's in Lewis. This is what he wrote: "Well, we are still on lockdown and when this is all over, I'm not sure if we will come off right away, but we probably will because they are concerned about rioting over everyone being locked down so long already. Still, there are going to be some major changes and no doubt we are going to get a lot of bullshit in the back lash of all this and we'll be the ones who have to pay for it, but this whole situation is not a security flaw, it's an error on the part of a stupid guard who didn't do his job and let two inmates get into a freakin' tower with guns!"

He also added that he's sick and tired of eating sandwiches three times a day, which is all they've been getting for breakfast, lunch and dinner since this whole thing started.
[/I]By the way, did anyone else read where guards and employees from several other prisons have volunteered to cook[U] hot meals for the Lewis guards and their families? What about the inmates? I guess cold sandwiches three times a day is good enough for them, huh?

Personally, I truly hope the female guard that's being held gets out safely and that this situation ends calmly, but I am very concerned that all the other inmates are going to be the ones who suffer over this. I'm also damned tired of listening to the media make it sound like prison guards should be candidates for sainthood and that they aren't guards - they're [/I]correction officers. No they're not. They don't correct[I] anything - they guard, period. Sure, there is some element of danger in their job, but as far as I've been told by my ol' man and many other inmates who have been in prison for several years, guards are seldom attacked by inmates. It's typically inmates assaulting other inmates. And think about it...IF guards being assaulted by inmates were a common occurence, then wouldn't most of these guards be in better shape???

I'm also getting miffed about the media being concerned only for the safety of the remaining hostage. What about the two inmates? One article said "a life hangs in the balance here". Shouldn't that be [U]three lives hang in the balance? Does anyone really believe that when this is over - and I believe that it will end with no one getting hurt - that those two inmates are going to be safe from retaliation? Come on.

Don't misunderstand me, what they did was very, very wrong (and pretty stupid, as well) and I pray that it ends safely and soon, but there is a part of me that feels for those two guys. They are in a no-win situation and there is no way out for them and I shudder to think what's going to happen to them when this is all over.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for letting me vent everybody!

Um, it's me again. Sorry about all the underlining in my last rant - I guess I don't quite understand how to make the "italic" and "underline" controls work.

Sorry.

Cherry, I hear you and I understand what you are saying. It is a bad situation for everyone involved. I also know that the media focuses on the guard being held hostage - and of course we are all praying for her safety, but I personally know there are also a lot of people worrying about the inmates as well and praying for them, so that is good. It is all just such a mess. I just can't believe it is going on day 11 today. I wish it would end soon. I also worry about what all the backlash is going to be for the inmates on this.

Not to make this about me in any way, but I'm curious if anyone knows if this terrible situation has effected the mail in other prisons in Arizona. I have not received any recent mail from mine at Safford which is highly unusual and in one of the final letters I received from him, he mentioned that a picture of him that I returned to him had been taken as contraband. Has anyone noticed a slow down or heard anything? I'm worried.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/01/30/state1308EST7476.DTL

Arizona prison standoff drags into 13th day

ANANDA SHOREY, Associated Press Writer

Friday, January 30, 2004

(01-30) 10:08 PST BUCKEYE, Ariz. (AP) --

One of the nation's longest-ever prison hostage situations dragged into a 13th day Friday, with negotiators still talking to two inmates holding a female corrections officer in a guard tower.

"Negotiations continued through the night and into this morning," Department of Corrections spokesman Michael Murphy said. "The talks have not broken off. It's a painstaking effort but we are committed to taking however long it takes to ensure this officer's safety."

Negotiators spoke to the officer Thursday, said Ivan Bartos, a Corrections Department official. "We know at 4:06 yesterday that our officer was alive," he said.

Bartos didn't elaborate.

No activity was seen early Friday at the tower, where one of the two inmates has appeared almost daily on the observation deck.

The standoff at the 4,400-inmate Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis began Jan. 18 after an inmate attacked a guard in a kitchen area. That prisoner and another inmate then got into the observation tower where two guards were stationed.

The other officer, a man, was released Saturday.

Prison officials have released few details about the officers, the inmates or how the takeover happened, saying they don't want to hurt negotiations.

The guard tower, in the middle of the prison grounds, is believed to be stocked with weapons.

Corrections officials are monitoring the atmosphere inside the prison, where inmates have been confined to their cells and dorm areas since the standoff began.

Bartos acknowledged the inmates who aren't involved in the standoff might be getting frustrated in their cells but said there haven't been any reports of conflicts between them and guards.

Inmates are being allowed showers and those with money can still buy items they want, he said.

On the Net:

Arizona Department of Corrections: www.adc.state.az.us/

Can anyone update me on this situation? Here in WA we seem to be having a "media black out" on the situation. BUT boy am I informed on the Koby Bryant case! :sleepy: There was a "small" report in the very back of the paper that "items" were exchanged to the prisoners for a hostage release - one guard was released? The paper said that the DOC wouldn't comment on what the "items" were - what's the big deal? Oh, but they did comment on the "brave correction officer" was headed to the hospital for a check up - brave? I'm sorry, I just can't get get into "brave". The guards at one of the facilities where my husband was, used to lock him in his cell and then taunt him about how they knew where I lived, and they were gonna make sure they took good care of me while he's locked away. One officer even went so far to explain every sexual detail that he was going to do to me while he locked my husband up - I reported this but well, "you know, those inmates are always making up stories" :hmm:
Please give some updated info if you have it.

I have a friend with a loved one in the unit that is involved and she said that her husband wrote her a letter a couple of days ago to let her know that he is fine. He is just upset about having to stay in his cell al day with no time out and is eating sack lunches with only cold sandwiches for every meal. They are allowing them to buy from the store if they have money on their account. So if someone has a loved one in there and you need to send money to them DO IT. That is the only way they can bear this situation they are going through. They are not allowing any phone calls to inmates from the unit. Which is understandable I guess. I don't know if the other units are getting any more than them. The warden's office is the only place you can find answers right now. But don't expect much. God Bless and Good Luck.

I haven't had any problems with the mail here. My fiance is in Douglas and writes me every day and my friend in Perryville still writes each week. They haven't reported any changes other than controlled movement.

Cherry

is this still going on?? geez....any updates? i'm in VA, but still I am very interested in this story....

yes, it is still going on. And, I just read information on the Middle Ground page that said one of the inmates is serving 7 life sentences and the other isn't eligible for parole until 2028. So they both don't really have anything to lose - it makes it scary for the female officer still being held hostage. I feel for her as well as all the guys in the prison who can't get visits or good meals while they are locked down. This is a sad situation for all involved.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-prison-hostage,0,6796771.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Ariz. Prison Standoff Enters 14th Day

By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press Writer

January 31, 2004, 11:40 AM EST

BUCKEYE, Ariz. -- A female corrections officer held hostage for two weeks in a prison guard tower appeared to be "doing OK," a prison official said Saturday.

The tower, in the middle of the grounds of the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis, was illuminated by floodlights Friday night for the first time since the confrontation began on Jan. 18. Prison officials would not explain the move.

Negotiators heard the captive guard's voice during a telephone check Friday, and doctors who listened in said her voice was strong.

"She is alert and she's mobile, and she appears to be doing OK under the circumstances," Corrections Department representative Ivan Bartos said Saturday.

"I'm hopeful every day," Bartos said. "The fact that negotiations are ongoing after 14 days, that the negotiators continue to make contact, to work with these hostage takers is a very good sign."

Negotiators had not seen the guard since Tuesday. "It's not always up to us what concessions are made," Bartos said.

The standoff at the 4,400-inmate prison west of Phoenix began Jan. 18 when an inmate attacked two guards and another worker in a kitchen area. That prisoner and another inmate then got into the observation tower where two guards were stationed. The other officer, a man, was released one week ago.

Prison officials have released few details about the officers, the inmates or how the takeover happened, saying they don't want to hurt negotiations.

Some correctional officers are calling their union to press for action to end the standoff.

"The officers are demanding the place to be stormed and they want to burst in and bust the tower down. They watch too much TV. It doesn't happen like that in real life," said Joe Masella, president of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers' Association.

Bartos said officers calling for drastic action don't necessarily have all the facts about the situation and don't understand the sensitivity of negotiations.

"Doubtlessly there are people who believe in a different course of action," Bartos said. "I believe that we are pursuing the best course of action under the present circumstance."

* __

On the Net:

Department of Corrections: http://www.adc.state.az.us/

**************
Let's pray that cooler heads like Mr. Masella's prevail.

And in light of this desire on the part of the guards to "storm the tower", I certainly hope there will be extra diligence of watching the guards and monitoring them for any retaliatory actions against the inmates. :(

I think if the inmates were hurting her, they would have had sharpshooters kill them.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040201/D80E6USO0.html


Ariz. Inmate Hostage-Taker Seen With Gun


Jan 31, 10:16 PM (ET)

By ANANDA SHOREY

BUCKEYE, Ariz. (AP) - One of two inmates holding a corrections officer hostage in a prison tower walked on the roof carrying what appeared to be a shotgun or rifle Saturday, the first time in the two-week standoff that either of the inmates had shown a weapon.

Prison officials said the action wasn't preceded by offensive action from SWAT teams or snipers.

"Only the inmate (knows) the motive for carrying the weapon," said Alan Ecker, a Corrections Department representative. He added that negotiations hadn't broken down to the best of his knowledge.

The inmate swung the weapon but never aimed it during the short time he walked on the roof. He gestured a couple of times, once appearing to wave in the direction of the media camped across the highway.

The inmates took two guards, a man and a woman, hostage on Jan. 18 at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis, in Buckeye west of Phoenix. The man was released Jan. 24, and negotiations to release the woman have been continuing.

"I'm hopeful every day. I have to look at the sequence of events," Corrections Department representative Ivan Bartos said Saturday. "The fact that negotiations are ongoing after 14 days, that the negotiators continue to make contact, to work with these hostage takers is a very good sign."

Negotiators last saw the captive guard Tuesday, but heard her Friday during a telephone check.

"She is alert and she's mobile, and she appears to be doing OK under the circumstances," Bartos said.

One of the hostage takers emerged from the tower Saturday afternoon when a siren sounded for a few seconds at the prison. Prison officials didn't explain why the siren went off or its significance.

The standoff at the 4,400-inmate prison began when an inmate attacked two guards and another worker in a kitchen area. That prisoner and another inmate then got into the observation tower where two guards taken hostage were stationed.

Prison officials have released few details about the officers, the inmates or how the takeover happened, saying they don't want to hurt negotiations. The facility has remained in lockdown since the hostage situation began.

---

On the Net:

Department of Corrections: http://www.adc.state.az.us/

Thank you. I did get a letter yesterday. He said there is nothing wrong with the mail and he did get his pictures returned to him, but said that some of the C.O.'s are using this situation as an excuse to be extra miserable on a more personal level.

As far as the Lewis situation goes, I agree that storming the tower is not an option, but to let this go on for two weeks is intolerable. Surely there must be a happy medium. I too had heard that these guys are long termers, so I can't imagine what she's going through.

man, what a long drawn out drama! i hope that for the sake of all involved, this is resolved soon...

My husband is in Buckley unit at Lewis Prison. At least they are letting him and the other uninvolved inmates send mail and make occasional phone calls. He was on non-contact visits on Fridays, anyway, so either way I can't see him until April. I am wondering how long this is going to go on - for the guards sake. I wonder what the two prisoners expect to get out of this. I feel for her family & pray for her and them.

Well it looks like the last hostage has been released thank God. Love Barb

BUCKEYE - The female state Corrections officer who was held hostage for 15 days was released Sunday night when the two inmates who had taken her captive surrendered peacefully.

The two inmates have been identified as Ricky Kurt Wassenaar and Steven John Coy.

The hostage has not been identified.

"She will be reunited with her family," said Cam Hunter, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Corrections.

She had been held since Jan. 18, when the two inmates took over a prison tower at the Arizona State Prison Complex-Lewis. They captured the tower after overpowering two officers and a kitchen worker, who was seriously injured. Officials have declined to comment on how the men gained control of the tower.

Coy was convicted of armed robbery and sexual assault in connection with a 1993 attack on a shopkeeper in Tucson.

Wassenaar was convicted of aggravated assault following a robbery at a Tucson exotic dance club, sparking a car chase in which he shot at Tucson police officers.

A man who answered the phone at the Janison, Mich., home of Connie Garvey, Wassenaar's mother, said, "We are doing great now. Thank god the woman is safe." The man refused to identify himself.

A male officer who was also held captive was released eight days ago, in what is believed to be the longest prison hostage situation in U.S. history.

Officials plan to investigate the incident, gather evidence and secure the tower.

I saw that they released her while watching the SuperBowl. Thank God! I am so happy for her. Her name and picture were in the Arizona Republic last weekend, so I don't know why the above reply says they aren't releasing her information.
Also, now my husband and the other 4,000 or so inmates will be able to see their families too!

The article I posted earlier was posted immediately following the Superbowl urgent report at 7:24 pm Arizona time.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0201release-online.html

What was the date that the name and picture were released?

Yes I am a correction officer but I am also inmate family. I know what its like on the inside and waiting on the outside. So first off let me get this off my chest. We are not All "Do you want more fries with that guards" We have the least respected job in the world. If you think you can do the job better please sign up and join us and make it better. Don't sit on the sidelines and complain. So the inmates at aspc lewis had to eat sack lunches for a couple of weeks. So they had very limited movement. What do you expect that we should put them at risk by letting them roam around? The inmates in the tower had weapons which could reach the other yards. So you think they had it bad. What about the officers doing a job nobody else wants. The officers can and do eat different food then the inmates but alot of times the officers eat the same food as the inmates prepared by inmates. We are not the ones that commited crimes. Yes we chose the job but didn't the inmates choose to commit a crime that put them there in the first place? We are people just like the rest of you. Yes security may be tighter because of this but that is to protect the public, inmates and staff. Your family member made not have committed a dangerous crime but others have. We don't look up why inmates are there. We are not their punishment, prison is. We are there to make sure they do their time. We are not the enemy. We are not the ones who abuse them they abuse eachother and us. We put are lives on the line everyday to make sure they are treated humanly and we have to remain proffessional even when an inmate throws human waste at us. I hope you don't think thats funny but I'm sure alot of you do. That just shows the mentality of some of you. Like I said I am also inmate family I have to deal with the same issues as you. My letters not getting through or his back to me. Visitation, and the waiting is the hardest or when our phone call gets disconnected. The only thing that changes is I then put on a badge and become an officer who protects the bad from the good on the inside. I have performed cpr on an inmate when I was new. I have watched inmates die on their own accord and at the hands of others. I have seen inmates for no reason or a minor reason destroy a whole chow hall and hurt eachother and officers in the process then complain they didn't get chow. I have helped inmates who have been beaten down by another inmate so that he did not die and I have stood up for inmates when they were wronged. I have sacrificed my own meal so one inmate may eat when another inmate spit on his food. I have had many friendly conversations with these men when they just needed someone to talk to. I have done my best to be the best officer I can be and I'm not alone my fellow officers all across the country have done what I have done and much more. And because of what happened at Lewis the prison where I used to work I almost gave up my badge. And after reading and listening to you and others tell me what a terrible person I am for going to work everyday I almost said "No more" but no tomorrow I will put on my uniform and badge and with a professional smile on my face go to prison to make sure the public is protected, the inmates are protected, my fellow staff protected and pray that I will be able to come home and kiss my husband and 6 kids goodnight. For I am a 5' 110 female Correction Officer and I love my job and if you hate me for that then thats okay I'm not doing it for friendship I doing it because if I don't then who will?

An Officer,

I don't think there's anyone here that think it's funny to hear of inmates throwing waste at an officer, much less most of the other things you list. Most of us here have been dealing with the system long enough to know that there are good cops and bad cops, just like there are good folks and bad folks in all walks of society. I and my incarcerated loved one appreciate the officers who have shown respect, kindness and compassion and it sounds like you are one of those. I would certainly be pleased to know someone who loves their job and has respect and compassion for the men and women inside is working in my loved one's prison.

We at PTO are certainly happy to have and welcome corrections officers here and especially those like you who have inmate family, as you said. As you ask us not to judge you, please don't judge us all at PTO by the comments of a few or even many. I think we have all had bad experiences with various officers but many like me have had the wonderful opportunity to have known some wonderful ones too. And as you can see, many here are relieved that the female officer who was held hostage has finally been released... which would not be true if we were all anti-officer.

I know this hostage situation has been stressful for many, inmates, inmates' loved ones, and corrections workers alike. So as I ask that my PTO family extend you a warm welcome to PTO and look forward to any of the "viewpoints from the other side" you may wish to share - as well as offer support in view of you being an inmate's loved one as well - I ask that you not be quick to judge us, either. I think most of us here understand that CO's are people just like all of us out here, and it is always heartening to come across an officer that realizes that families and other loved ones of inmates are people just like them too. Welcome to PTO and I hope you will give us all a chance as we are willing to give you the same. :)

Lysbeth
PTO Moderator

Just like the officer posting the reply, I do not appreciate being lumped into a category, especially out of convenience. Perhaps that office failed to read all the postings from people who wished that hostage a safe, quick return. It was a horrible situation and I'm glad it is finally over, but the rest of us are not all against C.O.'s any more than we are in favor of ALL inmates. Not that it is anyone's business, but my mother and brother were both C.O.'s and two brothers cops. I deeply resent the way that posting was worded. I realize she has a right to be angry, but so do I and I did not deserve to be scolded in that manner. Her posting should have been handled on an individual level to those who made the stupid comments to which she referred and deserve her anger.

Sonnymark, I understand your feelings about it but let's please give her a chance to respond before any further comment is made.

Everyone else, let's not jump on the bandwagon and start barraging this thread with similar posts as the one above. I know many of you will be unhappy with some of the comments made but Sonnymark has probably spoken many of your thoughts, so let's leave it at that for now and return the focus of this discussion to the topic of the hostage situation. Thanks!

Lysbeth
PTO Moderator

Welcome to PTO officer!
We Care! I know it must be ruff sometimes but we do care sorry we dont tell you Co's enough.
Patty

Allow me to point out from my prespective of what I gleaned from her post.

1- she has a husband (some would say, that's enought to deal with) :D

2- she has 6 kids (that's a challenge for anybody) :eek:

3- She works with "some" of the most emontionally challenged humans
known in our society.


4- she is personally involved with an inmate, (putting up with the same "crap"
y'all do from time to time). :argh

I wonder how many of the 15,000+ members would "choose" this life style, (she could walk away from any or all of the above if she wanted too). How many could handle that "balancing act" on a daily routeen?

Apparently, this employee is a bit different then a lot of those that we have contact with, inside the DOC system?

What shall transpire here at PTO is unknown, but I hope we can glean a lot of valuable information, as well as giving support in lifes ordeals.

B-Ray
PTO Moderator

have to remain proffessional even when an inmate throws human waste at us. I hope you don't think thats funny but I'm sure alot of you do.

oh no. I have heard that many times, that inmate do that to staff. I applaud you for everything you do. I have had dealings with four prisons in the last year and have only dealt with a couple of officers who were rude to me in any way. I do know that in some prisons officers do get into an us vs them mentality and beat the inmates. I can imagine that when many inmates are violent, mentally ill, it would be easy to start thinking that they are all not worthwhile as human beings.

hey I want to hear about what those items were that the hostages wanted! Is anyone else curious about what the heck was going on? I am very glad that they were patient in the negotiations and that there were no further injuries to anyone. I also hope that the entire situation is investigated, and the problems at the prison addressed.

I apologize if I offended anyone with any of my comments. This whole situation is very emotional for all of us on the inside and outside of the walls. I just wanted to make certain people understand that not all of us officers are bad. I am very thankful for all your prayers during this whole ordeal. I have dealt with many inmate families during my career and I know most of you are just trying to keep a relationship alive with your love ones. I also believe all of the inmates families are victims too. They are being punished by not being with their love ones. I many times have watched in anguish as a child or wife or mother,father,sister,brother or other family or friend had to leave their love one behind after too short of a visit. I have watched with tears of joy at the reunion of love ones upon release. I share in your pain.Thank you for all your support. And please remember as I an officer will remember that just because someone is rude doesn't mean they are a bad person they are just having a bad moment. Lets just try to all be friends and get along it will make all of us have a better day. Let us all thank God nobody was killed on the end of this long standoff.

the hold up inmates wanted pizza and a helicopter! One inmate said," we didnt ask for a million dollors or a plane.

I apologize if I offended anyone with any of my comments. This whole situation is very emotional for all of us on the inside and outside of the walls. I just wanted to make certain people understand that not all of us officers are bad. I am very thankful for all your prayers during this whole ordeal. I have dealt with many inmate families during my career and I know most of you are just trying to keep a relationship alive with your love ones. I also believe all of the inmates families are victims too. They are being punished by not being with their love ones. I many times have watched in anguish as a child or wife or mother,father,sister,brother or other family or friend had to leave their love one behind after too short of a visit. I have watched with tears of joy at the reunion of love ones upon release. I share in your pain.Thank you for all your support. And please remember as I an officer will remember that just because someone is rude doesn't mean they are a bad person they are just having a bad moment. Lets just try to all be friends and get along it will make all of us have a better day. Let us all thank God nobody was killed on the end of this long standoff.

Amen!!! :) I fully agree with and support everything you said and thank you for sharing with us. I am touched by your compassion and point of view, and think I would be pleased, thrilled - AND comforted - to know you were working where my loved one is, were that possible. My heart goes out to all the Arizona CO's as I know this must have been stressful and hard on every single one.

Thank you again for responding again and for sharing - and a very warm welcome to PTO :)

Lys

welcome to PTO Officer. So far not one CO has been truly nasty to me and I keep y'all in my prayers. the better day everybody has, the better for all...we need more like you.

Whoa! I am glad that all got resolved before I checked this post!! lol
As I've said before, my husband is in Lewis (Buckley Unit). What I haven't said, is the CO's there have always been polite, helpful when able, and very personable. I have defended CO's and the hard job they have to many people. I have read endless posts on prayers for the safety of the CO hostages and am happy like everyone else that this is over. Hopefully, good will come out of this and funding will go to improved working conditions and pay increase for CO's. Yvonne in Phx.

First I need to say bravo! -everyone is alright! Lysbeth: great job on the PTO reply, I think you captured everyones sentiment beautifully (here, here).
As four our brave officer, who thought she was walking into the lions den of PTO, I'm sure you're very tired, and stressed. There are many of us on here who have family working for the DOC - as you know, being an inmate family member doesn't disqualify you. With 2 million now incarcerated in our country and stats showing that each inmate efects 35-38 people - "we're eveywhere"
I had an uncle who was taken hostage in Walla Walla in 1974, during the riots there. My uncle got along well with everyone -he wasn't harmed, but I do remember what it was like waiting for it to over and have him home safe. He was with the DOC over 40 years. When he passed on a few years ago, we received tons of letters from inmates current and former who sent their respects -it was a thoughtful tribute to the man he was. After the riots were over and he was home he said "well, it's like a company getting a union -it you get one -you deserve one" -meaning that the conditions warrented such action. In the 70's Walla Walla was not taking care of it's inmates or it's correction staff during that time and my uncle was trying to say that it was their own fault for oppressing the inmates to such a primitave status and treatment of the guards (by DOC) was not much better. It was a riot waiting to happen.
Thank goodness, this situation was nothing like the riots at Walla Walla -in fact, we didn't get close to that largely due to our DOC staff -and let's not forget - our brave inmates inside who weathered days of bologna and kept their cool at being locked up because a couple guys screwed it up for everyone. As an officer, you must know what my uncle did -it can turn in an instant. I hope when the DOC thanks all of the officer that helped control this situation, they don't forget to thank the inmates who were not invoved, for their cooperation with DOC Officers during this time too. I think we can all rest better now.
I'm glad everyone is safe - to all you who have loved ones inside that will finally be able to get to see them again -give um big hugs. For our officer friend, I'm personally glad that all DOC officers were returned safely and our inmate loved one are safe. Thank you, Get some rest - I will. :cuffs:

Aria,
That was a great post! I commend your uncle, He might be gone, But he will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

officer,

welcome to PTO, it must be very difficult to juggle such feelings, as well as 6 children! thank you for your insight from "both sides of the fence"...and once again, welcome, it is a pleasure to have you here. thank the lord this saga is over with. and, further more, no one was hurt. miracles do happen. :-)

Does anyone know if Lewis is still on lockdown? I know the hostage situation is over (Thank God!), and I know they were still on lockdown as of Monday morning (he called), but I don't know the current situation and whether or not they are all back on their regular yard schedules. Anyone???

They are back to open yard as of today.Wont know if there will be any visitation this weekend, a Lewis employee told me to call back friday.

A helicopter? and it isn't a plane? wow.
There is this book, and I can't remember the title. It says 25 years of inmate writing from Pen magazine or Pen something. There is this story "big bird" of a mentally ill inmate climbing way up somewhere, and I think he wanted a big mac or something. He was up there all night. At the end he got something like a peanut butter sandwich. sad!

first ao all - i would lkie to apoligize for all the inconvieniences my brother has caused as far as your loved ones being locked down and a lot of other issues that visators had to deal with because of the prison gun tower takerover. i am new to this site so please be patient with me. (and merciful)

[QUOTE=az-tears]They are back to open yard as of today.Wont know if there will be any visitation this weekend, a Lewis employee told me to call back friday.[/QUOTE just wanted to tell you i'm sorry - i know what it's like to go through that & i wouldn't wish that on anyone....they look so forward to our visits - that's all a lot of them have to live for - again - i'm sorry, i will try & explain later why they did what they did & maybe some people out here can try to understand..

[QUOTE=az-tears]They are back to open yard as of today.Wont know if there will be any visitation this weekend, a Lewis employee told me to call back friday.[/QUOTE just wanted to tell you i'm sorry - i know what it's like to go through that & i wouldn't wish that on anyone....they look so forward to our visits - that's all a lot of them have to live for - again - i'm sorry, i will try & explain later why they did what they did & maybe some people out here can try to understand..
turn on your PM so I can send you a message ok believe me I understand ;)

welcome to PTO!

Sister of Wassenaar - Welcome to PTO and we are glad to have you here! Believe me, YOU have nothing to apologize for but it was very kind of you to do so. I read where your brother has already apologized. I think you will find that most of us here at PTO know better than anyone else what inmates go through and how the pressure, loneliness, and stress can finally cause them to reach a breaking point. I'm not saying that I feel what he did is right, but I am saying that I can certainly understand how it came to be. People can only take so much degradation and abuse.

We judge NO ONE here so please feel comfortable with us, okay! Just be careful posting on this site because you never know what "outsiders" may be reading your information - and I am sure that you would not want to say or do anything that could jeopardize your brothers future in any way.

He is VERY lucky to have you as a sister and to have someone who believes in him. Please PM me if you would like to talk. Also, I design web pages so if I can help you let me know.

Dear Sister: You are welcome here with open arms! We're glad you're here, and we're here for you and your family if you need us. I hope that everyone in your family is doing ok. Shhhh....Don't tell anyone, but, you might find a few other "family" members on this site who have ties with inmates who have done, well, not so smart things under stress too! :eek:
God Bless, I'm glad you found us.
Aria

Sister: My fiance is at Lewis and I live in Washington state. We had our special visit approved and I had paid for all my plane, car, hotel, etc. tickets & reservations and was all ready to go for my first visit to see him since he was sent to Arizona last September when the hostage thing went down. Needless to say - I had to cancel my trip and start all over, but you know what? It's okay!

First, you are NOT to blame for what your brother did and like fellow PTO member Here4you4ever, I don't feel that what Ricky did was right, but I also can understand what years of degradation, abuse and helplessness can drive a person to do. I think you will find that almost everyone here at PTO understands that. You will also find that no one will judge you, on the contrary - you are welcomed here with open arms. PTO is a family, and for some of the people here, it's the only family they have who sympathizes and understands what they are going through as they continue to stand by their incarcerated loved ones.

So with that said..."Welcome to PTO!"

By the way - I did make it down to visit at the end of February and it was wonderful!

hey cherry
I am glad that you had your visit ..I am goign next weekend as I was there waiting while the hostage situation occured, but I will get my visit this month. Things happen and we are not in control of and there is a good reason for it in the end
I do hope that all turns out for all concerned and that things calm down soon,. I also hope that this brings up the issuses needed such as over crowding in the system as well
I tho will have better weather this trip lol

Hey arriana,
I hope you have a great visit! I'll tell you this, it was a lot more relaxed than I expected and the outside visiting was fabulous - better than any visit I've ever had in all the times I've gone. So have a good time!

thanks and good to know
i am very excited about it
arri

PLEASE RESPOND TO MY POST ABOUT THE BBQ IN PHOENIX!!!

yvonne

hi Ari, I am having the hardest time posting a new thread. Everytime I've done it - it was on total accident. Can you help...Thank You. Rhonda

hey there
You have to start a new thread from the Forum ,, you go to az and then at the bottom you will see new thread button and click that ... you can not start a thread when you are in a post from another thread.
sooo scroll up and click on arizona and in the forum click at the bottom new thread and there you go
I hope that helps
arri