As the noose tightens around the necks of the elected and appointed officials that allowed the Cuyahoga County jail to degenerate into a cesspool, more people will be running for the exits, as did Armond Budish’s chief of staff, former Shaker Heights Mayor Earl Leiken, who by all accounts is a good and decent straight arrow. Only on the job for a hot six months, his doctor wants him to take a “less demanding position or retire in order to preserve his health.” Or was it his lawyer giving him the advice to preserve his freedom?
In any case, it sounds suspiciously like the “I have a fart turned crossways and can no longer come into work” excuse, although no one will blame him. And while replacing Leiken will be a task easily accomplished (mainly due to the high salary). it might be wise for potential candidates to consider the adage known to hustlers and grifters the world over: “All money ain’t good money.”
By all appearances, a Pandora’s Box has opened up at the county administration building, and under the intense scrutiny of the prosecutor’s office and other investigatory bodies that are now focusing laser-like on operations in virtually all county departments, there’s no telling what’s going to pop out. But one thing is for damn sure — it won’t be anything you’d want to place under the Christmas tree. “Oh, a pair of handcuffs, how thoughtful of you. I can begin to practice wearing them right now!”
But one real downside is that the current investigations are probably already causing a lack of potential job seekers for the severely understaffed jail. Due to the historically high level of turnover in years past virtually everyone who has ever had a fleeting thought of working as a corrections officer (C.O.) probably has already served their time in the facility, and with the potential for a plethora lawsuits being filed against jail administrators and probably some guards, who in their right mind would want to get on board this Titanic? It’s a real Catch-22.
Not that the gig was all that desirable to begin with. I mean, who wants to spend a goodly portion of their day looking up someone’s butthole for contraband? “Oh look, is that a cell phone I see stuck up there?”
The comeuppance from all of this will eventually be that the people we pay to do a job most of us wouldn’t care to take on a bet will finally begin to get paid a better wage. The federal judge that will eventually oversee the jail will demand that it be staffed at adequate levels, and if that means raising pay to accomplish this, then so be it.
Allow me to finish with this true story: When I was in the Los Angeles County Jail many years ago, they were always doing pat-downs and searches. The drill was, the prisoner leaned over and put his hands on the wall and spread his legs while the C.O. patted you from your collar to your shoes. This one dude had this amazing ability that some of were aware of and waited for: As the guard was bending over to complete his search, just as his head was near, the guy’s butt he would cut loose a gigantic fart right in the C.O.’s face, and then sheepishly say, “Oh, excuse me.” Of course, that just made our day — indeed, our week.
From CoolCleveland correspondent Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com. Frazier’s From Behind The Wall: Commentary on Crime, Punishment, Race and the Underclass by a Prison Inmate is available in hardback. Snag your copy and have it signed by the author at http://NeighborhoodSolutionsInc.
One Response to “MANSFIELD: Jumping Ship”
Peter Lawson Jones
Happy New Year, Mansfield. Yet another insightful article. Just one point I wish to clarify. Earl Leiken, one of the most honorable men I have ever known, is indeed suffering from a very concerning illness that, though eminently curable, requires him to resign from the crucible that is currently the County. Otherwise, he would continue in his post as chief of staff. The blood of the jail and the other myriad problems at the County do not trace to Earl. If you recall, Earl has only been with the County since this spring. Frankly, as his long time friend, I am relieved that he is resigning to focus, at the age of 77, on his health and family.