Fallen: Deputy Alvin Glenn

[Rebecca]

He was all alone...

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*Deputy Alvin Glenn
Richland County Sheriff's Department, SC

Cause of Death: Assault
End of Watch: September 17, 2000
Date of Incident: September 17, 2000
Time of Incident: 2300 hours
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 5 yr
Suspect Info: Captured during escape attempt
Weapon Used: Person

Deputy Glenn was beaten and killed after being attacked by three inmates during an escape attempt at the county jail. He was locking prisoners back in their cells when he was overpowered by three of the inmates. After overpowering Deputy Glenn, the inmates handcuffed him, beat him, and strangled him. After the attack the inmates escaped the roof of the jail but were injured when they attempted to jump to the ground. All three were taken into custody before they escaped the compound. Deputy Glenn was the only guard overseeing 64 inmates in the medium security area.

Deputy Glenn had been with the agency for five years and is survived by four children.

*as reported by the ODMP

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I don't understand it... why would this facility allow their officers to be alone with 64 inmates? This says he was locking them back into their cells. Is it standard practice to have only one officer per that many loose inmates?

I'm sorry for asking questions in this man's memorial posting... but I just can't understand why any jail would take such a risk with their officer's lives.

My condolences to Deputy Glenn's family... may God help to see them through the pain.

http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by Rebecca (edited 09-18-2000).]

[JKT]

My heart goes out to the survivors...

Rebebecca; In Texas, the "normal" ratio of inmates to officers is 48 to 1 by Texas Jail Standards. The safety of this depends a lot on the design of the facility. Usually, at our Jail, the highest number of inmates one officer will be alone with is 16. (Still too many).

Again, this is an example of why we need to be alert in our duties.

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Good luck and be safe

Jack

[BPGUY]

In the jail I used to work at 64 inmates to 1 deputy would be considered a low ratio. I have personally supervised over 100 inmates alone. The average housing unit would have usually 80 or more inmates. Only one deputy worked in a housing unit, locked in with the inmates. If trouble arose backup deputies would have to go through two at least two locked doors controlled by a central control. Hope this info helps. My heart goes out to Deputy Glenn's family and friends. There isn't a place bad enough for scumbags like this.

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BPGUY

[Rebecca]

Thank you, gentlemen... for trying to help me understand... but I still don't. There is no real back up for any of you when this type of thing happens... and I don't think I'll ever be able to understand why. I can see if one officer is on watch when these low life's are in their cells... but when they are walking about... I can't see only one officer per that many inmates. Does it come down to a matter of funds available... or manpower... or just plain stupidity on the shoulders of those who run the system?

I'd like to shrug it off and say it doesn't matter... but it does matter. The loss of good men like Deputy Glenn makes it matter. This shouldn't be allowed to happen... and apparently, not only is it allowed... but by placing one man alone with that many inmates... it's practically encouraged. http://www.officer.com/ubb/mad.gif

May this Deputy rest in peace. He deserves it. http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Don]

'Becca,

There is nothing to understand here. It is just the way it is. As to your question: "Does it come down to a matter of funds available . . . or manpower . . . or just plain stupidity on the shoulders of those who run the system?" I am afraid the answer is "all of the above."

Jail personnel put their lives on the line quite often. Usually it works out ok, but sometimes . . .

I once heard jail duty described as hours and hours of extreme boredom, interspersed with moments of abject terror.

I have known corrections officers that were