Deputies skip work after inmate beats guard
Apparent sickout at jail in San Bruno
01/18/05
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department is investigating an apparent sickout by deputies at the main county jail in San Bruno after an incident in which an inmate beat a guard unconscious.
Sheriff Michael Hennessey said the inmate attacked the deputy in a medium- security wing Jan. 8 during lunch. David Wong, head of the deputies' union, said Monday that the inmate was on a special diet and was upset that his lunch had been delayed.
Another deputy intervened, but not before the first deputy suffered a broken shoulder and a gash to his head, Hennessey said. The deputy, who lost consciousness, was treated at a hospital for his injuries.
The jail was locked down over that weekend. On Wednesday, 13 of the 20 deputies who had been on duty during the attack called in sick. It was their first scheduled day back at work since the incident.
"Apparently ... they talked among themselves and decided not to come to work," Hennessey said.
However, neither the deputies nor their union gave notice to the Sheriff's Department of any work action. Hennessey said he sent notices to the deputies telling them that the apparent sickout was in violation of the City Charter and that they could face discipline.
Hennessey said he had talked with Wong, who told him the deputies hadn't received union permission for their action. "He said they don't approve of it, '' the sheriff said.
Wong said the union would not authorize any such action, but he understands now what was behind it.
"I would not suggest that anyone call in sick, but I didn't know the deputy was hurt that bad,'' Wong said. "The department did not provide any debriefing about this -- they think the deputies should just go back to work.
"This is almost like a shooting on the street for a police officer,'' he said.
Hennessey said he hopes to find out what triggered the action.
"I don't want to have discord with my employees," he said. "I don't want them to feel they are not supported or they don't have safe work conditions.''
The decrepit San Bruno jail, built in 1934, houses 400 inmates and is slated for closure later this year after a new jail is opened. That jail, whose construction was prompted by an inmate lawsuit, is supposed to relieve overcrowding and improve safety for inmates and deputies.
"All we ask is that the department provide better support,'' Wong said. He said one deputy now faces "tons of inmates -- when you get swamped, nobody knows.''
"The conditions over there are not good at all,'' Wong said.
The inmate who allegedly beat the unidentified deputy is in custody for robbery and faces new charges stemming from the attack. He was identified as Patrick Walker, 52.
Susan Fahey, spokeswoman for Hennessey's office, said Monday the deputies involved in the apparent sickout would be interviewed.
"We have nothing we can go on," she said. "No one has told us directly as of now what this was about.''