Metro Corrections officers say Mayor Fischer is dismissing concerns

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Louisville Metro Corrections officers say their frustrations continue to grow as Mayor Greg Fischer sides with the department director.

On Tuesday, Corrections FOP held a vote and 97% of 222 officers voted 'no confidence' in Director Dwayne Clark. Later Tuesday night, the mayor's office released a statement that said it was disappointed in the vote.

WDRB News asked Mayor Fischer about his response to the vote.

"So to think replacing one person is going to solve all these problems that are happening all over America is just simplistic. It doesn't work that way. I wish it worked that way," Fischer said.

"Mayor Fischer is showing that he is not concerned at all about the livelihood of the inmates and the officers, and that should concern every citizen of global that voted for him," Candice Graves, wife of an officer, said.

The jail has seen equipment failures, overcrowding and a staffing shortage.

Metro Corrections Inmates in cell — Pictured: inmates in a holding area at Louisville Metro Corrections in Louisville, Ky. The jail is dealing with a staffing shortage amid overcrowded conditions. (WDRB/file)

Benjamin Bowman says as a corrections officer, morale is at an all time low.

"The jail is in crisis," he said.

Mayor Fischer also said Wednesday he thinks the jail and the city should work on incentives rather than firing Clark.

"We got to drop the war words, work together and focus on the incentives that we put in place," Fischer said.

Metro Council signed on to temporarily offering double overtime pay for officers.

Katelyn Wilkinson said the new incentive is not enough and she's already started looking for a new job.

"Double pay is nice and all, but it's not working," Wilkinson said.

She's not alone, during the same Tuesday vote, out of the more than half of the 222 officers that voted, 131 said they're actively looking for a new job.

Bowman said it's his Navy background that keeps him coming back.

"The Navy always say 'a good sailor never abandons a sinking ship' and that's unfortunately where I'm at and it's a struggle. I feel I might be one of the only ones there who still wants to stick around,'" Bowman said.

FOP President Daniel Johnson has been campaigning for a higher minimum wage for officers to help retention and recruitment.

Bowman said for him it's also a relationship factor that's missing between leadership and the officers.

"I'd rather be okay-paid, and feel valued at work than well-paid and just be a number," he said.

Wilkinson said inmates are also feeling the crisis.

"I hate to say it, but be concerned for your loved ones that are getting arrested, and having to spend even one night in that jail. You don't know what's gonna happen, Wilkinson said.

"Our guys are tired. We're doing the best that we can. But we can't catch everything because we don't have the bodies."

She's referring to several overdoses in the female dorms on Friday.

She said she wishes Fischer could walk a day in their shoes.

"I think the mayor needs to come in and work a shift at the jail and see what it's really like," Wilkinson said.

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