Ely Prison Lt. Fights For His Job
Posted By MTWT - Chris on June 30, 2009 
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By: High Desert Advocate ~ June 19, 2009
…Currently NDOC lists ESP as having fifty open positions that were frozen as a result of budget concerns. In addition, ESP has replaced twenty four sworn correctional officers with correctional assistants who are not trained nor qualified to perform correctional staff duties. Mallory stated that members of the Association are concerned because the assistants are neither trained nor qualified to deal with violent inmates. He went on to say that, in the event of a riot or escape attempt, these assistants would not be qualified to use weapons or to restrain inmates…
Lt. Richard Daniel Falge (R)
A highly decorated Correctional officer at the Ely State Prison challenged his termination in a hearing Tuesday and was told to come back on September 11.
“We had the hearing yesterday,” said Lt. Richard Daniel Falge.“But they ran out of time and rescheduled to September 11th.” He was fired while mother was dying.
Falge a 22 year veteran officer with Nevada Department of Corrections, most of it at ESP, was terminated from state service in November after Associate Warden of Operations Debra Brooks charged him with falsifying state documents. According to prison authorities, Lt. Falge falsified inspection reports and later lied about it. Lt. Falge denies the charges and has countered that the Maximum Security Institution authorities have themselves misrepresented the facts of the case. Lt. Falge has worked at ESP Since April of 1990, with prior service at NNCC in Carson City. While he did not open the prison in 1989, he was there within one year of opening.
According to his attorney Andy Boles of Reno, Lt. Falge has always been rated as a superior employee, is the recipient of numerous awards including a Governor’s award for bravery, and has been lauded for his exemplary service.
In 1994, the then senior officer thwarted an escape attempt by two convicts from death row. The convicted murderers attacked the officer stabbing him seven times. Before he was rescued, he fought off the killers for several minutes and thereby allowed the nurses in the infirmary to flee from the armed convicts. He survived the attack after being medically transferred to a Utah hospital.
Lt. Falge is one of the longest serving officers at ESP and still remains a resident of Ely. He is currently seeking reinstatement and hopes to stay a resident of the town where his three children were born. His wife Angela was born in Baker Nevada and works at the local middle school.
The situation that lead to the firing of the decorated officer took place in June of 07 while Falge was getting ready to leave the next day to be at his dying mother’s side. Although, Falge admitted to a clerical error, he was terminated for dishonesty. His representative from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal employees, Dennis Mallory believes that the incident should merit no more than a letter of instruction, the least serious level of discipline. Mallory has said that such a valued employee should not be treated so callously given the importance of keeping good employees in rural Nevada.
The State Prison in Ely has often been the target of lawsuits and has seen a recent rash of disciplinary actions overturned after hearings. According to Mallory, approximately ten employees of ESP had their discipline overturned or decreased in the recent years. Mallory said that members have reported that Associate Warden of Operations Debra Brooks has bragged about the large number of officers she has brought up on charges. Currently NDOC lists ESP as having fifty open positions that were frozen as a result of budget concerns. In addition, ESP has replaced twenty four sworn correctional officers with correctional assistants who are not trained nor qualified to perform correctional staff duties. Mallory stated that members of the Association are concerned because the assistants are neither trained nor qualified to deal with violent inmates. He went on to say that, in the event of a riot or escape attempt, these assistants would not be qualified to use weapons or to restrain inmates.
Falge is currently waiting for his day before a hearing officer and hopes to be back on the job by summer. If he is returned to work, the state will have to repay him for back wages and benefits.
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In the Nevada Department of Corrections the leadership allows all things local. In other words “Fiefdoms.” There is no consistency of staff disciplining staff.
More then likely Lt. Richard Daniel Falge is and was gone after because something that he may have done in the past and as such was gone after. That situation may not be part of the suit but likely is but can’t be proven since the NDOC is not centrally controlled from Carson City.
It appears that Associate Warden of Operations Debra Brooks needs to be investigated on her actions by the Nevada Attorney General’s Office by not following the Administrative regulations on discipline.
Out of the entire thing, I find this to be the most damaging statement:
“…Currently NDOC lists ESP as having fifty open positions that were frozen as a result of budget concerns. In addition, ESP has replaced twenty four sworn correctional officers with correctional assistants who are not trained nor qualified to perform correctional staff duties. Mallory stated that members of the Association are concerned because the assistants are neither trained nor qualified to deal with violent inmates. He went on to say that, in the event of a riot or escape attempt, these assistants would not be qualified to use weapons or to restrain inmates…”
How can you run a maximum security prison with people not even trained to the job? It seems to me that the vendors that fill the machines could do a better job. Not only does AWO Brooks need to be investigated, but the entire staff that runs that prison. They need to get rid of the 16 corrupted officers and also the WARDEN!! Better yet, shut the entire place down and move them closer to REAL medical care.
What is the name of the church that Debra Brooks attends in Nevada what is her religious beliefs?
None of the MTWT staff knows the religious beliefs of anyone working within the NDOC. If anyone else has this information and would like to comment please feel free to answer the question.
The statements by Mr. Clarke about training for CA’s is a flat lie. The CA’s go through the same academy and have to qualify with the weapons the same as the regular CO/T’s. The positions were created to help the shortage of staff. The positions have a lower age requirement and it is written what they cannot do. I know Mr. Clarke is trying to get Lt. Falge back, but keep the facts straight.
Pat,
What are you talking about? Explain.
Has there been an update on this story? I feel so sorry for Lt. Falge. Lt. Falge was an exceptional officer: firm, fair, and consistent. He was an important part of the juvenile diversion program while I was there.