Monday, August 03, 2009

Correctional Officer Stephen Mencer Used Cameras to Watch Inmates Shower

A Maury County correctional officer received a written warning for, according to the sheriff, watching female inmates in the shower.

The rookie officer, Stephen Mencer, did not hang the camera, he did not hide the camera and he did not turn it. The sheriff said he was taking advantage of some ill placed equipment.

Virtually every square inch of the Maury County jail falls within camera range, but camera 42 was the one that got the correctional officer in trouble with the sheriff.

"He's had a written reprimand, and [been] Informed that this is not proper to do this," said Maury County Sheriff Enoch George.

George admitted camera 42 was improperly aimed when it was installed just this year.

The camera might have been off-center, but George said officer Mencer's remarks were off-color and co-workers complained.

"If you're a jokester, or a prankster, or whatever - you like to horseplay, then things catches up with you," said George.

The sheriff commended Mencer's cohorts for blowing the whistle. He stood by his decision to warn the officer and not fire him.

"He was sitting here in the control room, where we're at right now, looking at a monitor," said George.

The sheriff admitted everyone deserves privacy even if it was in jail. He did not have the best video vantage point.

"It was certainly not a clear view of anybody. You couldn't make out who anybody was," said George.

The camera's been re-directed so officers in the control room can monitor the hallway not the shower.

George said there was no evidence to suggest Officer Mencer was video-taping the women or sharing anything with any outsiders.

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