Hope leaders move in right direction | Letter

I’m a proud father, realizing that my son and the circumstances behind his preventable death are indeed helping to bring much needed change at Island County Jail. I’m also proud and appreciative for the efforts of concerned citizens, friends and family who spoke out, wrote letters and held signs at the jail these past six months. I feel it’s these selfless efforts that are the sole reason we are seeing some action taken by our county officials.

Editor,

I’m a proud father, realizing that my son and the circumstances behind his preventable death are indeed helping to bring much needed change at Island County Jail. I’m also proud and appreciative for the efforts of concerned citizens, friends and family who spoke out, wrote letters and held signs at the jail these past six months. I feel it’s these selfless efforts that are the sole reason we are seeing some action taken by our county officials.

The sheriff seems to want to take the opportunity to use this as a political platform and to take credit for these changes, when in fact his lack of oversight at the jail contributed to my son Keaton’s death.

While reading the review by Mr. Phil Stanley, it’s clear that Island County Jail is lacking sufficient protocol, training, safety standards, jail staffing, medical staffing, inmate rehabilitation resources, nourishing food and appropriate equipment. Most of all what has been absent is responsible leadership, as we can logically assume that, with it, these other shortcomings wouldn’t be so far below acceptable standards.

There was another preventable death at Island County Jail on Jan. 26, 2014, of local resident Gregory McBride. Where were our county leaders then? Although action at that time would have been too late for Mr. McBride and his family, appropriate action then could have certainly helped to prevent the death of Keaton and the assumed mistreatment of a large number of inmates who were in the care of Island County Jail thereafter.

It’s my hope that the jail is moving in the right direction in regards to “above” standard protocol, jail and medical staffing, nourishing food, inmate rehabilitation and safety for both employees and inmates. But as we should have all learned by now through these two preventable deaths, as Mr. Stanley points out in his review, it will all be wasted effort without proper oversight and leadership.

Fred Farris

Coupeville