MAHONING COUNTY Sheriff won't adjust staff at jail, disciplines signers of complaint

The sheriff said absenteeism, not an inadequate staffing level, is the problem.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Nothing has changed since deputy sheriffs complained in August about what they called a dangerous staffing shortage at the Mahoning County Jail.
But all 20 deputies who signed the complaint, which was submitted to Sheriff Randall Wellington, have been disciplined.
Patrick Gallagher, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 141, said the discipline was retribution from Wellington for the deputies' making their complaint public.
"He does not like anybody that speaks up or speaks out against him," Gallagher said.
Sheriff's contention
The sheriff denied that and said the deputies failed to have the complaint approved by a supervisor before it was sent to him, which is required by departmental policy. They were disciplined for improperly filing a complaint.
Wellington also was upset that the complaint was forwarded to the media before it ended up on his desk, which he said breached department rules regarding the confidentiality of such complaints.
"There is a procedure to follow when doing that sort of thing, and they didn't do it," Wellington said.
Each deputy received a verbal warning against taking such an action again, the sheriff said.
In late August, the sheriff received a written complaint that there were not enough deputies assigned to adequately staff the jail during the day shift. Deputies said the shortage could jeopardize the well-being of jail staff.
Wellington and jail warden Alki Santamas said at the time that the staffing level was fine.
The problem, they said, is that too many deputies call off sick, which causes the shift to run short-handed.
Cut in overtime
In the past, Wellington would have deputies stay over from a previous shift and pay them overtime to work a double shift to cover such vacancies.
He cut overtime in August, though, because of budget cuts imposed by county commissioners.
When that happened, deputies stopped volunteering to work overtime and he was no longer able to force them to stay to work -- since he can't pay them.
Wellington said absenteeism is still the problem and he hasn't made any staffing adjustments in response to the deputies' complaint, nor does he intend to.
"They're not happy about it, but that's the way it's going to be," he said.
Gallagher said deputies have no other option than to continue working under those conditions.
"What are you going to do when he has the authority?" Gallagher said.