Delco Told Prison Bosses Retaliated Against Guards Who Met With Councilman And Exec Director— Frank Kwaning, president of the Delaware County (Pa) Prison Employees Independent Union, yesterday, March 6, praised county Executive Director Barbara O’Malley and Councilman Richard R. Womack for their recent tour of the county’s George Hill Correctional Facility and the point they made to privately talk with correctional officers.
Kwaning said, however, the prison administration retaliated against those officers after the county officials left.
Womack said that he was appalled to hear that and asked Kwaning to supply him with specifics.
Kwaning, a 14-year-veteran, of the facility was among the 68 fired after the County took over the facility in April 2022. He and 12 other former correctional officers filed a federal lawsuit, Feb. 29, saying their termination was improper.
Ms. O’Malley, earlier in the night, said major upgrades have been planned for the prison and that she would investigate all complaints. She said, however, she was satisfied with how things were going there.
The rank and file have long been warning council of dangerous conditions at the facility.
Oaths
Carris Kocher of Concord during public comments took issue with Solicitor Jonathan Lichtenstein’s claim that only elected officials were required to take oaths of office. She read to him state law that specifically cited clerks and deputies.
She also asked why the county needed process servers outside the elected constables, who are recognized law enforcement officers.
A Concord man brought to council’s attention a matter of suspicious zoning in his township.
