In an email sent to state Department of Corrections employees this week, DOC Secretary Ed Wall told workers they could be fired or disciplined for spreading false or malicious information about the agency.
A spokeswoman says Wall was simply responding to rumors circulating about building a new prison and privatizing operations. Jackie Guthrie with DOC says Wall just wanted to make sure staff remains focused on their mission of public safety, rather than being distracted by baseless rumors.
AFSCME Council 24 executive director Marty Biel says those concerns should have been handled through the union or with the individuals involved with sending out the information. He says sending out an email to 5,000 workers is nothing more than an intimidation tactic and calls it “unprofessional.”
AUDIO: Marty Biel (:18)
Biel says these types of rumors have been circulating for at least 15 years, and he questions whether the move to quash them could be a sign that there’s some truth to the issue.
Rick Schuh, WHBY