EVERETT – Snohomish County corrections officers may have no confidence in their boss’s ability to run the jail, but County Executive Aaron Reardon on Wednesday made it clear he is convinced he’s got the right man for the job.
Reardon sent a letter Wednesday to the Snohomish County Corrections Guild saying he has “complete confidence” in corrections chief Steve Thompson.
The guild represents 204 county corrections officers. Earlier this month, it announced that more than 90 percent of guild members voted to tell county leaders they believe Thompson is doing a poor job and exposing jail workers and inmates to avoidable risk.
In his letter, Reardon said he examined the guild’s complaints and concluded that Thompson “has managed the department in a manner that is not only consistent with my expectations, directives and philosophy in regard to labor issues, including contract negotiations, but also in line with the policy objectives outlined by the (county) council on behalf of the citizens they serve.”
Chuck Carrell, the guild president, said he was disappointed.
Members were hopeful that Reardon would encourage Thompson to change how he works with officers, not chalk the unrest up to labor organizing, Carrell said.
“This has nothing to do with contract negotiations at all,” he said. “This has a lot to do with the problems and safety issues that (Thompson) is not addressing.”
Reardon reached his conclusions about Thompson’s performance after being briefed by his staff on issues at the jail, including more than 100 unfair labor practices complaints that guild members have brought against the corrections director.
A state labor commission has scheduled a December hearing on the guild’s complaints.
“We believe that is the body that should be looking at this,” said Susan Neely, an executive director who specializes in criminal justice issues for Reardon’s office.
In the meantime, corrections workers are expected to work with Thompson, Neely said.
The guild became the bargaining unit for corrections officers 10 months ago after officers voted to decertify their union. The guild has yet to negotiate its first contract.
Carrell and other guild members say their concerns about how the jail is operated have triggered what members say are retaliatory investigations and on-the-job harassment.
Thompson was director of the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention before taking the Snohomish County job in 2003.
Reporter Scott North: 425-339-3431 or north@heraldnet.com.
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