KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – After seven Kalamazoo County Jail inmates were left in a transport van in a holding area outside the jail for several hours earlier this month, a deputy has been fired, a sergeant was demoted, and two other deputies underwent counseling.
According to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office a lack of supervisory oversight, inadequate communication, and unintentional negligence led to the inmates being left inside the van without supervision for about two hours May 12.
One of the inmates was able to break a window to get out of the van, then unlocked it for the other inmates to get out. That’s when they pressed an intercom button in the garage to call for help from the jail staff.
A review of the incident by the Sheriff’s Office led to the demotion of the sergeant, counseling sessions for two deputies, and the firing of another deputy for violating written directives.
The Sheriff’s Office says its also reviewing current jail policies, specifically those involving the transportation of inmates outside the jail. The seven left in the van had just returned from appearances at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse.
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