Jordan fires one deputy, demotes one in jail security breach

One deputy was fired and a sergeant was demoted in the wake of a security breach at the Cape Girardeau County Jail early this month, Sheriff John Jordan said Friday.

On April 1, two male inmates being held on federal charges moved from their cell block to one used by female inmates. One of the two male inmates had a girlfriend who was also being held on federal charges. As a result, the U.S. Marshals Service removed 19 of the 29 federal prisoners being held in the jail at the time.

In addition to the firing and demotion, Jordan said three jail employees were issued written reprimands that will remain in their personnel files for at least a year.

Jordan declined to name those disciplined, citing advice from Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle's office. "If you damage someone's reputation, you can open yourself up for litigation," Jordan said. "We were advised not to release the names at this time."

State law is unclear on whether public employees subject to disciplinary actions such as those taken by Jordan must be disclosed, said Jean Maneke, an attorney who advises the Missouri Press Association on state Open Records Law issues.

When a public body such as a school board or city council votes to discipline an employee, the vote must be disclosed within 72 hours. But the law also bars disclosure of personnel records that identify an individual, she said, and Jordan wasn't required to take his action before any public body.

The county is losing almost $1,000 a day because the 19 federal prisoners were removed. The federal government pays Cape Girardeau $50.82 per inmate per day to house inmates awaiting trial. New security cameras are being installed, as are mirrors to cover blind spots that allowed the inmates to creep along the floor near a deputy's station unobserved, Jordan said.

The marshals service must certify the new security measures before bringing additional inmates to the jail.

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