KDOC wants to fire guard who let Manard out

From Lansing Correctional Facility 2:48 p.m.:

• ...proposing the termination of the Lansing Correctional Facility corrections officer who failed to follow facility security protocols which require the search of vehicles exiting the facility. The staff member’s failure to search the Safe Harbor Prison Dog Program van allowed John Manard to leave the facility undetected. Manard was hidden in a dog crate that had been placed in the van by several other Lansing inmates.
• News release
• Above: New pix released today of Manard and alleged accomplice Toby Young, prison volunteer

Comments

[jb]

I agree this is a series breach of the rules and regulations. Basically what this individual did was trust the volunteer. Who is more at fault here? The volunteer obviously had the assistance of the other inmates and they should be dealt with accordingly. The officer should be diciplined or reassisned. But should he be fired over misplaced trust? Could that happen to about anyone......

[Steve]

Can you say scapegoat? You would think this was a part of the government.........oh yeah never mind.

i feel that the offier,should not be at fault,because by the way..when is the last time you miss judge a fellow college..and if you think about it,why would she just give up her life,if she did not trust this person or did she fall in love with him and believed that he did not do what he got charge for.....SO i think it's a catch '22' "situation"...but thats what you get with a justice like america.....RUN HOOLIGAN RUN...you got my bets wish's and hope you have peace,

[lifeistooshort]

This guard is very blessed to walk away from this and to leave that nasty job behind. If the guard had searched the van, he would have been executed, people are forgetting this individual also brought at least two loaded weapons in there. Those weapons should have been found when she drove in, not when she drove out. Of course, the hideous hag and the whole rotten non-profit scheme should not have been in the prison to begin with. But, if the warden would acknowledge responsibility for wanting to use Manard as a "showpiece", then they would have to shake down the whole playground called Lansing Penitentiary and purge it.

I am concerned about what is going to happen when "the warden's prison boy" wakes up from the heat of lust and greed to find out he carried "grandma" all the way across the country with him and "grandma's money" don't go that far.

[tex]

To 'lifeistooshort':

You seem to be very quick to judge the operations of the prison, as well as programs which are in place to help prisoners and last chance dogs. While this would not have happened if the program were not in place, it is still not Safe Harbor's fault. You can't punish the program because the prison protocol was not followed. I assume prison guards go through extensive training and they know the situation they are getting themselves in to. Many of these convicted criminals are very deceptive and the guards should be prepared for that.

As far as Toby: I have met Toby and adopted a wonderful dog from the program. I can't begin to think of what is going through her mind right now, but it is unfortunate that her life is basically over now. It is insane to think you will not get caught, and it will probably go down bad. Best bet...turn yourselves in and get it over with. Best wishes for your safety.

[lifeistooshort]

Freedom of speech, soon, someone will con a state legislator into pressuring the warden to allow in "gameboys" and other puerile brain dead teenage-activities to keep these individuals placated. What is interesting is what color the "wardens boys" were in the "elite group" who got to "play with the puppies" and therefore to play with the fool brain of the individual who the warden allowed to bring those dogs in there to begin with. What is sad is there are actually grown man inmates in there who have genuinely repented and are trying to repay their debt to society, they do not cause problems nor do they look for middle-aged gullible "therapy crazed" groupies to plaster them across then newspapers, nor do they wish to

dip in the wallet of, get high on the charge account of, much less mess around with "grandma." Indeed, life is too short.

[harley]

The guard knew the responsibilities and hazards of the job, which he did not perform as trained. He should be disciplined for his failure to perform his job as expected.

[micah jude]

When it comes to disciplining the guard, unless you were on that playground at the time all this went down, you really cannot say that. It certainly should be taken into account the fact guards are underpaid, the prison is understaffed and certainly not staffed sufficiently to deal with at least 7 white boys loading the poster child into the dog crate, and two loaded guns in the hand of his lust-crazed therapy-happy, pocket-bulging grandma. The guard should be disciplined, certainly, but not fired. But I agree with lifeistooshort about all of it, the guard is blessed to walk away from that nasty, nasty sty.

There are grown up man inmates in there who don't want to play with puppies or wrinkled groupies. Those are the ones who really suffer when things like this happen. Those are the ones who would tell you "repentance, not rehabilitation"

[F]

He did not do his job properly .
His mistake has let a convicted murderer
run free.
Guards are taught in training about these types of situations & warned about becoming to routine in the job.
He deserves to lose his job.
Who is to say she had the guns with her.
No one knows but the 2 of them.
The guard should be fired ,no doubt .

[lr]

I agree there are "grown up man inmates", as opposed to "boys" ,as my Dad worked in the federal pens. (not state) across the country for 26 years. That aside, the reference to "play with puppies" in the above posting is not an accurate assessment. The dogs are being socialized and trained (not merely played with) for subsequent adoption to the public. Therefore,the program is worthwhile. Don't blame the dogs for their temporary owner's (Toby Young) terrible lack of judgment.

[micah jude]

Her "TERRIBLE LACK OF JUDGMENT?" What an understatement, call it what it is : a horrible crime, and which, well could be construed to be possibly

child molestation as well as obvious
"abuse of the elderly"

Why not let some abused children or lonely elderly folks rehabilitate those animals, you know populations who are really vulnerable, who are truly struggling, and who would actually nourish them instead of pervert them into yet one more tool for a "jerry springer melodrama?", a newspaper "campaign" or some deperate loser's "true crime novel"?

[lr]

I agree with the "micah's an idiot" poster's comments. Postings such as micah's are most appropriate for the weekly tabloid fodder found in the STAR,Ntl. Inquirer,etc.

[micah jude]

Keep spewing your liberal white trash insults, it does not affect me, it just tells me you have no compassion ....

and, that you have never worked in a prison or been a police officer yourself because if you had, you would not worship or therapize and idolize cold-blooded criminals. Or if you had, you probably would have carried the warden's boy into the crate "grandma". Enough said. Have a wonderful day folks.

[lr]

You have a wonderful day too, micah. And dont forget to submit a resume to the weekly tabloids.

[James Fleshman]

I feel the corrections officer should be terminated. I worked for JCDC for five years. This type negligence should not go un answered. However you also get what you pay for in corrections. When you only pay $11.00 per hour you won't attrack a very good employees. In my time as a C/O I have seen staff dismissed for romantic involvement with inmates, dealing drugs, and helping them even escape. We need to hire people with good quality and not 19 year olds to work at a prison.

[Crime Scene KC]

Folks,
I've had it with t, at least for today. All he does is insult people. I'm deleting his comments from this thread. If anyone (other than possibly t) objects to this, feel free to comment here or email me at greeves@kcstar.com.
Thanks,
Greg Reeves

[Anne]

I think they are looking for somebody to hang the fault on and it wouldn't really be fair because I bet a lot of others could have/would have been in that same place. You get familiar with someone and you let your guard down. Is it right, no. Is it human, yes.
I used to work at Lansing KSP and I just don't think it would be right. These guys put up with lots of crap literally for not much money

[Anne]

I see so many comments about inmates shouldn't be allowed to have things to make time pass by better or to entertain themselves and make life bearable. I've got news flash for those people. Most of these inmates are going to be released someday so you better ask yourself if you want an animal coming out to your street, or somebody who has been allowed to remain at least somewhat human inside the walls of a prison, which is no easy task (to retain your humanity.) I'm sorry for the program because I'm almost certain its gone, and the guys who dedicated themselves to it shouldn't have to be punished because of one loser and most of all the dogs whose lives would have been saved. She was really selfish. She had to know but ultimately not care about the dogs she said she loved.

[F]

Thanks Greg.

[t]

Sorry Greg. Maybe tomorrow? No more insults. I promise

[old freind]

you know if at anyjob you screw up disiplinary actions r taken i do agree that something should happen to the gaurd, regardless of pay he had a job to do and should have done it

[Jake]

They're called guards because they're supposed to "guard" the prisoners. The guard had procedures he was required to follow, and obviously he didn't. And it doesn't matter how much per hour the guard made - he is the one who applied for the job and knew the pay scale before he ever agreed to work there. He also knew the risks of working inside a prison - that he could be jumped and stabbed, beaten, etc., at any time. He didn't do his job, plain and simple.

[F]

Jake is right .
Not to mention How many other people are Now in danger due to his poor work habits .

[A.E. Wess]

Without a doubt the guard that did not do his job should be fired....After all it was just a convicted 1st degree murderer he let escape. This is another case of the Cons running the joint, not the guards.....The dog lady was not living in the present. She had been reading to many comic books and watching too many movies. She is probably the reason they got caught. Stupid is as stupid does........

[craig w]

the guard is a scapegoat. the load on guards there is so immense that they cannot search every vehicle and get the job done. we need compassion.

[Jennifer]

You wouldnt have been screaming "compassion" if Manard and Young had killed someone while on the run. Or, since there was a chase involved in the capture where the car went the wrong way, if an innocent driver was crashed in the chase killing someone. The bottom line is the van SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHECKED. All other vehicles were checked (according to the tapes) so why not hers? Because she convinced the CO that she was trustworthy. This is a fine lesson for CO's all over to remember that NO ONE is trustworthy at a prison, not even if your own mother, father, brother, sister, husband, wife works there...the procedures are set in place for a reason, and anyone can be aiding a convict, or kidnapped, and it would have been found out then.

[fred]

The same thing took place at the prison, I think it was July 11,2002. An inmate by the name of Tanner Lee Green serving time for murder, hide in a laundry cart, rode out the gate #3 in the max. side. The guards did not look in the carts when the inmates loaded them in the truck. The guard at the gate did not look in the carts. Green ran from the back of the truck when it arrived at the east unit prison. He was captured in about 30 minutes. No guards were fired then, wonder why the same Warden that wants to fire this guard, did not fire anyone over that escape. By the way I think they all should have been fired.

[old timer]

I retired from that snake pit called lansing correctional facility. Just the middle name cracks me up. (correctional) It is truly a day camp for the inmates. Now why do I say this ? The warden has been there much to long, the people that he is grooming is no better than he. The answer to all of this is to place an entire new administation in order to fix the problems there. Do not blame the officers as there hands are tied from doing there job properly.