Guard firing upheld after jail hanging
Share with others:
A state arbitrator has upheld the firing of a Fayette County jail guard who falsified a duty log after an inmate hanged himself.
Fired Fayette County guard Barry Simon, of Uniontown, didn't deny falsifying a report to say that he had checked on inmates shortly before 25-year-old Cade Stevens was found dead Sept. 12.
The guard's union argued Mr. Simon should have been disciplined, not fired, because he changed the document due to being "shook up" by the suicide.
The arbitrator said Wednesday the firing was justified because Mr. Simon actually made his last rounds 40 minutes before he claimed in the log.
Another guard, Geary O'Neill, of Belle Vernon, was fired for allegedly sleeping. Mr. O'Neill didn't challenge his firing, but has denied sleeping on the job.
First Published July 30, 2010 9:08 am
