J. Cabana, May 10, 2012
I just wanted to say thank you to the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM, especially to Bob Maroun, for your great service, assistance, and care that you have given me through both of the incidents that I went through. You have helped me understand my rights and assisted me through the court process when I truly needed it. May you continue the great work and service that you provide for us Peace Officers. Thank you again for everything and I hope that all the Members and non-members out there always know that the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM will be there for you. Stay safe everyone.
J. Cabana
Youth Correctional Counselor
C/O Hanson, April 4, 2011
I just want to thank Bob and Scott as well as everyone in the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM for all the help and support. I was able to win a judgment against an inmate that assaulted me 2 years ago. The Task Force was quick to help, and they are very dedicated in helping all of us. Remember, we are not punching bags for inmates when they don’t get their way. We are, in fact, Officers of the Law, and the inmates should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the Law. That is what the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM is there for. Thank you Scott, Bob, and everybody else in the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM. You guys were great!
C/O Hanson Calipatria
C. Reyes, March 20, 2012
My name is Cesar Reyes and I would like to thank the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM for helping me win my case when I got assaulted in April of 2011. The Task Force sent me a check and initialized the civil suit against the inmate and helped me through the case until the end. Thanks to the task force I was able to sue the inmate and win my case in civil court.
Cesar Reyes
A.Yslas, March 1, 2012
Thank you to the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM. They helped me with a cash aid during the holidays after I was assaulted at CSP-LAC.Also thanks to Mr. Bob Maroun who helped me win a judgment against that inmate for $5,000.00 dollars. Not having the assault task force is like not having CCPOA in your corner, its a must have. If we keep on winning judgments against these inmates it will make them think twice about assaulting staff.
C/O A.Yslas CSP-LAC
Member since 2003
C. Reandelar October 1, 2011
On July 4th 2010 while conducting my duties in the visiting room at the California State Prison Solanoin Vacaville California, I observed an inmate and his visitor conducting a contact visit in the visiting room. I observed the inmate and his visitor through our video surveillance camera exchanging contraband by kissing each other. The visitor would place the unidentified item in her mouth and would kiss the inmate, while he appears to read a bible book. Subsequently, I removed the inmate from the visiting room placing him in hand cuffs. During the unclothed body search of the inmate in our rear strip area, we noticed that he had a couple of bindle of narcotics in his mouth. I gave the inmate several direct orders to turn around in an attempt to place my hand cuffs on him. He then quickly turned towards me, and forced his way out of the strip room utilizing his elbows to push his way through us. I attempted to grab the inmate by the shoulders to stop him, but he elbowed me in the face.
Dealing with this battery was a very difficult time in my life. I was off work for several days due to injuries sustained from this inmate. I wanted to hold the inmate accountable for his actions, as a member of the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM (CASTF) I notified them and spoke with Bob Maroun asking for their help. Bob immediately went to work and within a week I received a check and papers for a civil lawsuit against the I/m. We went to court a few times and came to a resolution. The judge awarded me $1,500 for my damages and I was satisfied with that. I hear of Correctional Officer’s getting assaulted all over the State of California, but never heard of anyone taking an inmate to Court for it. Every court hearing Bob was there with me and never once had any negative attitude. He was professional and was very knowledgeable on the whole process. My sincere appreciation to the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM and Bob for assisting me in this difficult time in my career.
Thanks you for your hard work.
Cipriano Reandelar
S. Boardman July 26, 2011
My name is Scott Boardman and I am a Correctional Officer at North Kern State Prison. I have been a member of the California Staff Assault Task ForceTM for approximately six years and prayed that I would never have to utilize their professional wisdom. As you all know I probably wouldn’t be writing this testimonial if that was the case…
On November 23, 2010, I responded to a personal alarm and saw that not just my partner, but my best friend for over twenty years, had been assaulted. I responded to his aid and saw that the incident had been quelled. I was instructed by my Sergeant to place handcuffs on the inmate and escort him out of the building. During the escort, the inmate attempted to push me over the top tier when my partners and I placed the inmate on the ground. The inmate began to resist by twisting and turning his body. He had wrapped his legs around one of my ankles and acted like an alligator by rolling over. This caused me to fall down. After the inmate began to comply and was escorted out of the building I started to feel that my ankle was extremely sore. I was escorted to the Treatment and Triage where I took my boot off and watched my ankle grow to three times the size that it should be. After going to the doctor I was informed that I had a torn ligament and muscle in the ankle. I was taken off of work for three months.
I was sitting at home one day when our NKSP Chapter President called me at home and said he had talked to Bob Maroun that day, and thought I should call him and let him know what had happened. At that time I had forgot that while I was at the academy I signed up with CSATF. While talking to Bob, he was explaining to me what they were all about. At that time I told him that I remember signing up with a similar group while in the academy. Bob looked up my name and sure enough I had been a member for several years. Within a week I received a check in the mail from CSATF. It was really nice since I was unable to do overtime, and it allowed me to take my family on a small vacation. After being at home for a month Bob called me and asked if I had gone back to work. I said no and he instructed me to watch the mail. Again I received another check. Throughout the time that I had off, Bob called me periodically just to check on me and keep me informed of what was going on with the court process.
I was contacted by Scott Whaley the night before court and we planned on meeting the following day, first thing in the morning. We met for breakfast and then the training began. Scott drilled me for several hours giving me all of the information and coaching that I needed to walk into court and be completely confident. We walked in there and everything went exactly as planned. I explained my case to the judge and walked out with a settlement of $5000.00.
I couldn’t or wouldn’t have done this without the assistance of Bob, Scott, and everyone at California Staff Assault Task ForceTM. I have recommended to many of my partners that they too, need to become a member of CSATF. I hope that none of my partners ever have to go through this type of thing but as we all know that when you walk the line anything can happen, at any time. If you are reading this and thinking about it then please don’t hesitate, and sign up. If you don’t sign up for yourself then do it for your family!!!
Thanks again to Bob, Scott, California Staff Assault Task ForceTM and all of the members.
Stay Safe,
Scott Boardman
Correctional Officer
North Kern State Prison
Officer John Poynor
My name is John Poynor and I’m a Corrections Officer at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell, Washington. On October 31st, 2010, I was assaulted by a mentally ill inmate. Initially, the injuries sustained were not obvious, though once the adrenaline wore off and based on the facial expression of the nursing staff in the infirmary, I knew there was trouble. After being transported to the hospital, I was then told that I had dislocated my shoulder and tore up a number of muscles and tendons that would require surgery to fix correctly. I ended up spending 6 ½ hours on the operating table repairing the damage this inmate had inflicted.
Before and after the surgery one individual, outside my family and a few Correctional Officers, kept in contact with me and that individual is Keith Rapp with the Washington Staff Assault Task Force (WSATF). After this unfortunate assault I truly understand the meaning of what the WSATF stands for. The WSATF not only provided me a monetary stipend but peer support from individuals who had been there. Included with all this support was the Task Force’s assistance in holding the inmate accountable for his actions through the civil court process.
With all of this support from Keith Rapp and the WSATF, I had asked what else I could do to support the mission of the WSATF. Keith offered me the opportunity to speak in front of the Washington State House and Senate and discuss what not only happened to me but how this bill (HB 1334) streamlines the process of collection for civil judgments of assault. The garnishment procedure is slow, burdensome, and expensive. It would be easy to implement because the system for deductions already exists. This bill provides accountability and deterrence, by taking away an inmate's ability to purchase creature comforts. Being assaulted is not part of a correction officer's job. It is difficult to deter an inmate who is already serving a life sentence. Assaults can have a profound impact on corrections officers. Civil judgments of assault work to deter the majority of inmates and help to teach social responsibility.
In March 2011, the Franklin County Courts awarded me $5,039 dollars for this inmate’s action against me. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Keith Rapp, Brandon Johnson, Jimmy Fletcher, Jack Richardson, Darren Kelly from the Washington Staff Assault Task Force; Bob Maroon, California Staff Assault Task ForceTM; Keith Brodhead, Walla Walla State Penitentiary and the staff from the WSATF by providing my partners and I, avenues to hold offenders accountable for their actions.
Sincerely,
John Poynor
Corrections Officer
Coyote Ridge Corrections Center
Officer Jack Richardson
My name is Jack Richardson and I am a Correctional Sergeant at Airway Heights Corrections Center, I just wanted to write this testimonial for the Assault Task Force.
As soon as the representatives for the Assault Task Force gave their "schpeal" at my prison I was sold. I can’t tell you how many uses of force, and assaults I have been involved in over the past 14 plus years. I guess that is just my luck. Wrong place wrong time, first one on scene, quickest reflexes, etc.
Now we have an organization for us. An organization that takes care of their own "us" in corrections and law enforcement.
Who else can say that they get paid time off, a check for $200.00, and someone to represent them in court with the judge and sue this dirt bag that just assaulted you.
Now speaking from personal experience I got $450.00 in assault checks and sued one of the dirt bags for $5000.00 in court. Hell I bought a new 1911 pistol with my checks. So if you look at it these dirt bags bought me a new pistol and now that I sued through the Assault Task Force and got the judgment one of those sons of bitches will be paying me out of his LFO fund until it is paid off.
In closing I just wanted all who read this on the web page to know it is nice to have an organization that takes care of us and sticks it to the inmates. I know that me and my new 45 acp thank the Task Force!!!!
Sincerely,
Big Jack
Editor’s note: Big Jack did have his day in court. His final judgment was for $5,054.00
Officer Keith Broadhead
My name is Keith Broadhead; I have worked at the Washington State Penitentiary for 20 years.
I am glad that there is an organization of our own that looks out for correctional staff. We are not merely employees; we are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters that go to work to perform our duties, while our loved ones wait for us to come home safely every day.
We work “behind the scenes” in the criminal justice world, and I think that we should have the same civil rights and support that law enforcement who work the streets have.
If you punch a police officer you know that you will be held accountable for your actions; if you are attacked by a prisoner it has always been considered as “part of the job.” We’re not paid, nor have we signed on to be assaulted. We work in a dangerous environment where we’re sometimes outnumbered 200 to 1. Having worked as a full time law enforcement officer I can assure you that a correctional officer sees more convicted felons in one day than most street cops see in their entire career.
The general public doesn’t think about us much, because they are excluded from the prison element; safely I might add because of what we do.
So, I am pleased that the WSATF has come forward to think about us, to provide support when we are assaulted and most importantly to hold the inmates accountable for their actions.
Since becoming a member of I was “thrown on” by an inmate. I contacted the WSATF, and received an assault benefit check in a short amount of time. The happy note to this story is that a civil lawsuit has been filed against the inmate who exposed me to his blood and body fluids; and I have a date in court to address the situation.
Keith Broadhead
WSP
Officer Dave Roberts
I have observed staff that get the short end of the stick with Washington’s “entitled inmates” not being held accountable when they assault our brothers and sisters at work. It is nice to see that there is finally a way to hold these inmates accountable when Management and the Attorney General does not. Even if the AG does charge an inmate for assault, which I know of only one time out of all the assaults over the years, the inmate holds up the process repeatedly by changing attorneys and using other legal tactics. At the very least we can see results faster than the regular process. I just hope that we do not need your services Keith but if we do at least there is something for everyone that joins. I hope everyone stays safe.
Dave Roberts
Correctional Officer
MCC TRU
