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DOC Secretary Ed Wall Resigns Amid Lincoln Hills Probe PDF Print E-mail
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Written by GBP Staff   
Saturday, 13 February 2016 09:23

ed-wall-docCorrections head Wall falls on sword as the investigation of potential abuse of youth at the Copper Lake and Lincoln Hills schools moves on to the FBI. Democratic leaders concerned with the Walker cover-up of the problems at the youth prison.


MADISON - Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Ed Wall has resigned as a wide-ranging investigation of the state’s youth prison at Lincoln Hills moves on to the FBI.

boy-in-docA year long Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of potential abuse at the Copper Lake and Lincoln Hills schools in Irma revealed last December that a “culture” existed among some staff at the institutions “that may leave youth at risk for harm,”. The DOJ review began in January 2015.

The allegations first surfaced at DOC in late 2014, according to a Dec. 3, 2015 memo written by Wall himself. Wall wrote in the memo that a youth was “assaulted by a staff member and sustained serious physical injury due to the actions of a youth counselor” last November.

The disclosure Friday of Wall’s resignation came hours after federal officials confirmed that the FBI is leading the investigation of alleged abuses at the state’s only youth prison, Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma.

The announcement of Wall's resignation also came less than a day after Gov. Scott Walker’s office acknowledged it was warned of safety problems at Lincoln Hills dating back to 2012, which appeared at odds with Walker’s previous comments.

Wall was appointed by Governor Scott Walker and confirmed by the state senate to serve as DOC Secretary in 2012. Prior to that, he worked as the Administrator of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. Wall started his law enforcement career as a Police Officer for the City of Meriden, CT in 1986 and was a uniformed State Trooper in rural New Hampshire for five years before being assigned as a Detective to work undercover in the Narcotics Investigation Unit there for five more.

Statewide Democratic leaders appeared more concerned with the Walker cover-up of the problems at the youth prison than the resignation of Secretary Wall.

jennifer-shilling“I am appalled by the latest revelations of child abuse and sexual assault that occurred in Gov. Walker’s Department of Corrections," said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) in a statement Friday. "Sec. Wall’s resignation doesn’t change the fact that Gov. Walker and his top aides ignored critical safety warnings for more than four years.”

“Rather than covering up Gov. Walker’s failure to act, the Legislature should immediately assert its oversight authority and hold hearings on the safety and treatment of children at Lincoln Hills," said Shilling.

Democrats have introduced a series of Correction Reform measures that remain stalled in Republican legislative committees.

Shilling concluded "In addition to holding officials accountable, we need to address the serious safety and security concerns at Gov. Walker's correctional facilities and immediately pass these reform measures.”

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Last Updated on Saturday, 13 February 2016 15:50
 

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