CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County investigators are trying to find out who is behind a threat warning retaliation against county jailers if any more inmates are hurt.
According to an email obtained by 5 On Your Side Investigators, on Monday an associate warden at the jail warned that an anonymous man called the warden’s office and threatened “to harm staff if there was another report of officer misconduct against inmates.”
Ten past and current jail employees have been indicted so far this year for various crimes connected to the troubled facility. Prosecutors have said their investigation into problems in the jail continue.
“It is unnerving when you get a threat like that made against you,” said Adam Chaloupka, a staff attorney with Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the union representing jailers.
He worries some may be painting all jailers with the same broad brush.
“We have so many good officers in this jail every single day that are never going to be in a video like that,” said Chaloupka, “they’re never even going to be heard of.”
He’s glad the sheriff’s office seems to be taking the threat seriously and has increased patrols around the Justice Center around times officers may be coming and leaving work.
“The last thing they want is to be worried about when they leave this building that something bad might happen to them,” said Chaloupka.
For more of News 5 Cleveland's in-depth reporting on the Cuyahoga County Jail, click here.
