Ontonagon County Board hears union's concerns

ONTONAGON — The head of the union for the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department told the Ontonagon County Board Tuesday that union members have “serious concerns regarding the safety of our officers and inmates.”

Ken Waldrop, union president, said the board at its last meeting voted to rescind the approval of hiring a correctional officer due to financial issues.

Waldrop outlined the previous decision of the board to send two desk deputies to the academy for training and certification. He said, that while they were in training the board wanted to wait on hiring correction officers as replacements until the they successfully completed that training. Waldrup said the union officers agreed to that because if one of the officers did not complete the course he would go back as a corrections officer.

Waldrup said after the graduation, a request to fill the now vacant position was denied and the same action taken two months later. “Our office is severly shorthanded, and the multiple requests by Sheriff (Dale) Rantala to fill these vacancies have been repeatedly denied.”

Waldrop then explained how the department is structured with one deputy and one corrections officer assigned to each other. He said the deputy is generally on patrol throughout the county, while the corrections officer remains at the station overseeing those operations including inmate meals, paper service, medications, and dealing with behavioral issues. 

“Standard operating procedures dictate that when a corrections officer or deputy is at the station alone, cell doors must not be opened as there is no immediate backup or assistance available should a dangerous situation arise,” said Waldrop. He then described a scenario where a correction officer could not open the door in an emergency if the deputy were on the road.

Waldrop said the sheriff has stayed within his budget and that the county is required to operate the jail in a safe manner and the union is concerned that money concerns are being held above the safety of the officers.

When Waldrop was asked what the union wanted, he said, “Two correction officers, in addition to the current under staffing.”

Commissioner Robert Nousisinen said the commission will respond as soon as financially possible.

Waldrop asked if the commission had ever thought of passing a millage for the jail and the commissioners suggested that Waldrop talk the issue over with the police committee. Nousisinen said the only reason for not filling the positions was money.

The Sheriff’s Department presently has five deputies and four correction officers.