IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) - As cost-cutting measures started Sunday at prisons across the state, union members say state leaders are making dangerous decisions.
The Michigan Department of Corrections rolled out two statewide changes Sunday that it says will save the state $25 million each year.
The first change will end nonstop patrol on the perimeter of some prisons.
In Ionia County, three prisons had officers who used Perimeter Security Vehicles, or PSVs, to patrol the prison's perimeter to stop inmates from sneaking contraband from over the fence -- and to stop any inmate from trying to break out.
In 2010, a PSV officer shot and killed convicted murdererSeth Privacky, who was convicted in 1998 of killing five family members in a shooting spree near Muskegon, as he tried to escape.
"Security is one of those things where you never know if you have enough," corrections officer Kacy Datema said. ""Our exterior is vulnerable now and have no choice but to just live with that," he said.
The second change that started Sunday will do away with Resident Unit Officers, or RUO.
Datema used to be an RUO at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia County -- until Sunday. He'll have to take a $1.50 per hour dip in pay as he becomes a custody officer, which will change where he patrols at the prison.
The DOC says the change will the department flexibility to move officers around, which it estimates will save $12 million each year.
Datema says that brings some downsides, though.
"You're not going to know the prisoners as well," he said Sunday. "It's going to be harder to police things from the inside."
The Michigan Department of Corrections rolled out two statewide changes Sunday that it says will save the state $25 million each year.
The first change will end nonstop patrol on the perimeter of some prisons.
In Ionia County, three prisons had officers who used Perimeter Security Vehicles, or PSVs, to patrol the prison's perimeter to stop inmates from sneaking contraband from over the fence -- and to stop any inmate from trying to break out.
In 2010, a PSV officer shot and killed convicted murdererSeth Privacky, who was convicted in 1998 of killing five family members in a shooting spree near Muskegon, as he tried to escape.
"Security is one of those things where you never know if you have enough," corrections officer Kacy Datema said. ""Our exterior is vulnerable now and have no choice but to just live with that," he said.
The second change that started Sunday will do away with Resident Unit Officers, or RUO.
Datema used to be an RUO at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia County -- until Sunday. He'll have to take a $1.50 per hour dip in pay as he becomes a custody officer, which will change where he patrols at the prison.
The DOC says the change will the department flexibility to move officers around, which it estimates will save $12 million each year.
Datema says that brings some downsides, though.
"You're not going to know the prisoners as well," he said Sunday. "It's going to be harder to police things from the inside."
Representatives from the Michigan Corrections Organization labor union say changes instituted Sunday could put the public in harm's way.
But DOC spokesperson Russ Marlan said the security concerns will prove to be a non-issue and that union members are trying scare tactics.
But DOC spokesperson Russ Marlan said the security concerns will prove to be a non-issue and that union members are trying scare tactics.
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