Orders body cameras for COs as probe deepens

That alleged abuse at Lincoln Hills School ranges from physical and sexual assault, to child neglect, strangulation and even suffocation caused by the use of pepper spray.

About 50 investigators and attorneys with the state Department of Justice – twice as many as originally believed – were on the scene Saturday, according to sources.

The department said the cameras are part of its “aggressive action to investigate past misconduct, ensure immediate safety of youth, and strengthen school operations moving forward” at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile prisons in Irma. “I question whether the demographic makeup between Lincoln Hills staff and sentenced urban youths was a contributing factor to what has been called a ‘culture of indifference, ‘ and a ‘toxic environment, ‘” Moore Omokunde said.

Corrections spokeswoman Joy Staab had no immediate comment on Hahn’s claims but on Tuesday she said that the agency wants to keep youth and staff safe.

Westerhaus and the facilities’ superintendent, John Ourada, were relieved of their administrative duties December 3.

FBI spokesman Leonard Peace said Thursday the FBI is assisting the DOJ in the investigation. Staab said in an email that the Corrections began hearing allegations of CL/LHS staffers committing assaults against inmates and mistreatment.

The agency also learned of allegations that a small group of staffers and assaulted youth and covered the incidents up by willfully destroying or failing to file reports, she said.

“They are interviewing every single staff member and every single youth”, Bauch said.

A spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said her office didn’t hear complaints specific to Lincoln Hills, but has repeatedly heard from DOC staff about problems at other institutions, including understaffing, forced overtime policies, safety concerns and unresponsive leadership as ongoing problems at the DOC. Lincoln Hills School houses males.

“There’s a lot of good staff there”, Hahn said.

In Milwaukee, County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde insisted that it is time for Wisconsin to examine the effectiveness of its juvenile justice system and reconsider whether the juvenile facility in Irma “is the most appropriate placement for delinquent Milwaukee County youths, many of whom come from black and brown communities”. Just weeks before, however, Wall had praised both men in a memo to staff that said they were choosing to retire together in January.