MA- Did state prison employees make threatening phone calls so they would get more overtime shifts?

State Police and Hampden County authorities are investigating whether state prison employees made anonymous phone calls, threatening to kill an escaped inmate being held at a Springfield hospital, possibly as part of a scheme to generate more overtime opportunities, officials said yesterday.

A spokesman for the Department of Correction confirmed that two staff members have been suspended as authorities investigate whether the two made the calls to murder suspect Tamik Kirkland while he was in Baystate Medical Center.

Several law enforcement officials said authorities are examining whether the Correction Department employees allegedly made the phone calls so officials would order more overtime shifts to guard a prisoner whose life was in danger.

Officers from Springfield, the Correction Department, and State Police were assigned shifts to guard Kirkland, a purported gang member with many enemies. He was sent to Baystate Medical Center April 30 after he was seriously injured in a shootout with police. In the following days, Correction Department officials began taking the lead in guard duty, said Hampden District Attorney Mark Mastroianni.

“That anyone involved in maintaining security is then alleged to be involved in creating a security threat is disturbing,’’ Mastroianni said. “There is no other way to describe that allegation.’’

He confirmed that investigators are looking at overtime as a possible motive for the calls.


Link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/05/11/prison_staff_focus_of_investigation_into_threats_against_escaped_inmate/