O.K. I’m being sarcastic with my title.
But it might as well be that way in Arkansas.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A bailiff who forgot about a woman locked in a courthouse holding cell and left her there for four days without food, water or access to a bathroom has been suspended for 30 days but will keep his job, officials said Wednesday.
Washington County Cpl. Jarrod Hankins acted without "intentional misconduct" when he left Adriana Torres-Flores in the 9 1/2-by-10 1/2-foot cell, Sheriff Tim Helder said.Hankins "became busy and simply forgot" about the woman last Thursday, leaving her in the cell with only a jacket until Monday morning.
"I realize some people may have expected Hankins to be terminated. However, my philosophy is if an employee makes a mistake while trying their best to perform their duties, I will try to salvage them," Helder said in a statement.
What?
"If an employee makes a mistake while trying their best?”
He became “busy and simply forgot” that there was a human being alone, in a cell, with no food or water for FOUR DAYS?
She could have died.
Anything can happen to someone when they are alone like that.
Yeah, scare the illegal immigrants so badly that they will tell each other “Hey, we better leave Arkansas, because if you get caught you get locked up and they throw away the key."
30 days suspended without pay?
I say lock him up with no food, water, or bathroom facilities….for one day longer…5 days.
Then he can see how it feels when people make simple mistakes.
If instead of the criminal it had been a police dog accidentally locked up…this bailiff probably would have been fired.
Read the article from the Associated Press:
Arkansas Bailiff Who Forgot Inmate Suspended ÷ here
