USP Atwater controversy
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Submitted by victorpatton on Tue, 2008-06-24 09:35. |
Since the appearance of Saturday's story on the tragic death of Federal Corrections Officer Jose Rivera at United States Penitentiary Atwater, there's been no shortage of the name calling and verbal attacks to my voice mail and e-mail.
All of it is by people who have never met me personally. A small minority have even gone as far as threatening me with physical violence.
The anger and resentment came as a result of the article titled "Penitentiary Guard Killed," which appeared in the Sun-Star the day after 22-year-old Rivera was apparently brutally killed at the hands of two inmates at the prison. Many readers had disagreements with several elements of that article, which I will try to address here.
Many readers were upset because they felt the headline misidentified the correctional officer as a "guard." If there is one thing I have learned while working the crime beat at the Sun-Star, it's that you don't call a correctional officer a guard. I've been corrected on that issue before, so I try to avoid repeating it.
One common misconception that readers have, however, is that reporters write headlines. We don't -- and I didn't write the headline for Saturday's paper. During the nearly two years I have been at the Sun-Star, there has never been a print edition headline that I've written. Editors write headlines, not reporters. That's the way it's worked for every daily newspaper that I've worked at. That being said -- if you ever disagree with a headline, contact my boss, Keith Jones at ktjones@mercedsun-star.com.
The second issue that many readers were upset about was the fact that the article that I wrote included a paragraph about how a former lieutenant at the prison was indicted last month for allegedly abusing an inmate. Many readers felt including that piece of information was akin to "tabloid journalism" and that it somehow sullied the name of the officer. The inclusion of the indictment in the article was not meant to cast a shadow on the sacrifices that Officer Rivera made on the job -- it was merely included as background information on the prison itself.
When I wrote the article, I was asked by my editor to include any background information on the prison at the end of the article. I also included background information about how the prison has been affected by staffing shortages and how correctional officers have been taken hostage as recently as last year. Still, I don't know how anyone could look at the inclusion of that background information as tabloid journalism. The information about the indictment came from the U.S. Attorney's Office (hardly a source for tabloid journalists).
Nonetheless, the mentioning of the issue was not meant to cast a negative light on Officer Rivera, and I truly feel for the loss that his family is enduring. The indictment was not even meant to infer any sort of relation to Rivera's death -- it was background information, and only background information. I sent an e-mail to Rivera's aunt -- and spoke on the phone to Rivera's mother -- saying that I was sorry if the Sun-Star article in any way contributed to the pain and loss they are feeling. I cannot imagine the windfall of emotions and sorrow they are feeling right now.
It should also be noted that the only reason the Sun-Star found out that an officer was killed at the prison was because of a phone call from an anonymous person Friday afternoon. I spoke with the coroner's office that day and confirmed the worst to be true -- that an officer had been killed. Had it not been for the anonymous caller, it's doubtful that the Sun-Star or any other media outlet would have been informed about Rivera's death until Saturday or Sunday.
Still, as reporter, you have only minutes to write a story and you do the best you can with the information that you have. With the confirmation of Rivera's death from the coroner's office and background information from previous reporting, I wrote the story.
Through all of the name calling and angry phone calls I have received during the past few days, however, the people I really appreciate are those voices within the system who have contacted me with real concerns about how the federal prisons are run -- how correctional officers and staff simply need better equipment and better staffing the handle a ballooning population of dangerous inmates and do their jobs. I've heard horror stories of how correctional officers have had to walk among groups of convicted killers and felons equipped with nothing else but keys and a uniform. Obviously, people feel in danger and something has to change. As reporters, we need to hear those stories. We need to hear the opinions of correctional officers and staff who want nothing more than to return safely to their families and loved ones after a hard day at work. I, as a reporter, want to tell those stories -- and hopefully some changes will come as a result of this tragedy.
In the meantime, I and the other reporters at the Sun-Star will continue the follow this case as closely as possible. You can send your thoughts and comments to me at vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
usp atwater controversy
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Submitted by wifey on Fri, 2008-06-27 20:44.
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I understand your plight.. your editor should have wrote this clarification and taken the heat.
USP Atwater
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Submitted by rwwoods on Fri, 2008-06-27 11:07.
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I would like to said that the article you wrote does not take from the lost of this fine young Correctional Officer. Knowing that what you have said about the rest of what has happened in the past at this prison is the truth and that it was only background information about the prison not in anyway does it reflect on this officer. Just want to leave a few things for people to think about as I carry it with me everyday as I enter the Federal Prison where is work at.
Meeting Thy God
The Corrections Officer stood and faced his God, which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Corrections Officer. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other check? To my church have you been true?"
The Corrections Officer squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord I guess I ain't, because those of us who carry badges can't always be a Saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, and at times my work was rough, and sometimes I've been violent. Because inside the walls are awful tough.
But I never took a penny, that wasn't mine to keep, I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills just got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear, and sometimes, God forgive me, I wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don't I will understand."
There was silence all around the Throne, where the Saints often trod. As the Corrections Officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, Corrections Officer, you've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell."
Unknown Author
The Correctional Officer's Prayer
Lord, when it's time to go inside, That place of steel and stone.
I pray that you will keep me safe, So I won't walk alone.
Help me to do my duty, Please watch me on my rounds.
Amongst those perilous places And slamming steel door sounds.
God, Keep my fellow Officers Well and free from harm.
Let them know I'll be there too, Whenever there's alarm.
Above all when I walk my beat, No matter where I roam.
Let me go back whence I came, To family and home.
By Lt. Larry Peoples - Florida Department of Corrections
The Corrections Officer's Creed
I walk through the gate of wrought iron, under arbors of razor wire.
The clanging shut of all the gates, is the start of my day.
Wondering some where deep in my mind if I will walk out the same way.
Voices raised in anger, are the first words of my day, garbage flying down from the tiers reign upon my head.
Words of hate and ridicule are their daily song.
Why you here boss man?
What did you do wrong?
Not a blessed thing
Human rights are a funny thing, guaranteed to us at birth.
But as a guard within these walls, I am sorely hurt, I am spit upon, and cursed out loud.
Have urine thrown upon me.
All of this is by the ones, the government says should not be free.
I guard the lowest of earth's scum, the guilty and the judged.
Who have more rights than me.
I spend my life as a free man, yet behind these walls of concrete and steel
is where I am condemned to be.
And all for the simple reason the inmates can not be freed.
The bleeding hearts and liberal officials.
Value the convict more than me.
I am not a police officer, and often held with distaste.
I go to work everyday, never a prayer is said.
You don't hear the wishes of please be safe.
No one ever remembers me.
As long as no inmate dies, as long as none escapes.
Don't admit that they exist.
You can safely sleep.
I am there when you least care.
To serve and to protect.
I don't wear the badge so bold, or carry a gun at my side.
I only have my wits with me, to help me to survive.
So when you hear of a corrections officer don't look upon us with disdain.
We are not just security guards.
We are the ones that keep this land from going totally insane.
Rest in Peace Brother
Correctional Officer Jose Rivera
End of Watch: June 20, 2008
Mr. Patton,This story, like
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Submitted by consitter1 on Thu, 2008-06-26 06:49.
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Mr. Patton,
This story, like any other story, will fade from the headlines and pubilc opinion. The murder of Officer Rivera will, a month, six months, a year from now be but a memory until every correctional officer federal, state, and local, gather during the month of May to remember fallen officers who gave their life in the line of duty. This will be a memory until it happens again and then it will be used as a lead in or something of that note.
The plight of the correctional officer is never ending. It is a story which continues with no ending. I would like to share with you something that speaks volums and which any one working in the profession must deal with.
WHEN GOD MADE CORRECTION OFFICERS
When the Lord was creating CORRECTION OFFICERS, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one".
And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order?"
A CORRECTION OFFICER must always bear in mind that rehabilitation is based on self-respect. In the event of rebellious actions or disparaging remarks towards them by inmates they must always maintain a quite firm demeanor.
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has to be able to tolerate the ignorance of some, without losing hope.
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER must also be prepared to cover a life-threatening situation, canvass the institution for witnesses, and testify the next day.
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals when it is necessary.
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER has to have six pairs of hands.
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way!"
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an Officer has to have."
"Is that on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded and said, "One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before the Officer asks, "May I see what's in there, sir?" (When the Officer already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) "the second pair, here in the side of his head for his fellow Officers safety and the third pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, "You'll be all right, when the Officer knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound inmate out of a rebellious intention without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the CORRECTIONAL OFFICER very slowly, "Can it think?" the angel asked.
The Lord said "Can it think!
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER can recite departmental rules in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on a tier in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of a traffic stop... and still it keeps its sense of humor.
"This CORRECTIONAL OFFICER also has phenomenal personal control.
A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, professionally watch over a child abuser not allowing emotions to stand in the way of helping a inmate better himself, comfort a fellow Officers family with a loss, and then read in the daily paper how the department and its Officers are not sensitive to the rights of criminals.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the CORRECTION OFFICER. "There's a leak," the angel pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model!" the angel exclaimed.
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear"
"What's the tear from?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that tattered piece of cloth called the American flag, and for lady justice."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put that tear there."
Author Unknown
Mr. Patton the next time a correctional is murdered, know that he or she walks the meanest streets there ever were and in a neighborhood that some would not venture. Remember always remember the thankless job they do in keeping socity safe from those that the public think the laws are to tough on.
The poem is not the end of the story Mr. Patton...... it is only the beginning.
I feel ya
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Submitted by SamEyeAm on Tue, 2008-06-24 22:01.
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You don't know how hard it was for me to bite my tongue and not say anything in the comments about the fact that it is the editors, not the reporters, who make the headlines. But I knew you'd get to clearing the air when you got the chance.
What gets me is that people were angry because you failed to "put yourself in their shoes" when it came to writing the story, however, it seems none of them bothered to put themselves in your shoes. As a journalist, you are thrusted into other people's lives every day, usually during emotional, life-changing events. And while it's real easy to get emotionally attached, you have to then remove yourself from that person's life, and write something that is strictly fact-based (and confirmed), and as long and detailed as the editor says it should be. Oh yea, and then there's that whole deadline thing.
I'm sure it's not the first time that you would have loved to have more time and lots more info to write the story. But the fact is that nothing you or I or anyone could have written under the existing conditions would have done any justice to the loss suffered by Jose Rivera's family and friends.
USP CONTROVERSY
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Submitted by RAZORSHARP on Tue, 2008-06-24 18:16.
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GETTING THREATS OF PHYSICAL HARM ARE YOU?
NOW YOU KNOW HOW A CORRECTIONAL GUARD (OFFICER) FEELS EVERYDAY THEY GO TO WORK.
WITH AN EDITOR LIKE YOURS WHO NEEDS ENEMIES.
Syndicate
The Sun Star
Well i am sure things will calm down, what matters the most is OFFICERS RIVERAS FAMILY!