This is a Commentary Piece
This piece was written by a member of the public or a high-profile individual as a submission to the editors. To write your own commentary piece, please contact a Shout News employee.
[Editor’s note: After Shout News posted our prospective state representative profiles for the special election, Eddie Bones with the Department of Corrections posted a series of tweets, which read:
Going to keep this short and simple. Joseph – I don’t know how you’ve “been through the system” despite not having a single arrest to your name. I also don’t know where you’ve gotten ANY of this information from, because you’ve not reached out to DoC once. Not to my knowledge, anyway. BBSP is a correctional facilities. You do the crime? You do the time there. The cells within VPD, SSSO, Rangers, MRPD, etc. will and can hold folks who commit petty crimes. This is a known fact.
I’m no legislator material, do not get me wrong. What I am though, is someone who cares about his job. We at DoC have maintained our inmates, made sure that they are fed, looked after and cared for. I’d advise you speak on subjects that are better suited for needing to be looked at, rather than talking about a department you clearly have no knowledge of. End tweet.”
Eddie Bones’ Twitter account
Shout News offered Mr. Bones the chance to publish his thoughts with Shout News as an op ed, to which he agreed. The following is an open letter penned by Mr. Bones.]
Hello! My name is Eddie Bones. I’m currently employed within the Department of Corrections as a certified FTO Officer. Let’s address the elephant in the room (Or cat, rather?). As stated in the tweets I have made, I have no issue with Mr. Dracul, and I wish him the best within his campaign this season. The things I do have an issue with are false claims against the Department of Corrections. If you know me, you know I take my jobs above anything else. The exact same can be said for Beeker’s Garage, Paleto Customs, Schmuck – my OWN business, Mojito Inn, and above all that, the Department of Corrections. Mr. Dracul has spoken on “being through the system” and if you are reading this, Mr. Dracul, and if I have taken it the wrong way – please do feel free to correct me on it. But not once have you showed up on the MDT as an arrest – and there’s nothing wrong with that! You’re a good citizen of the state. That’s what we want.
As for what your message is, separating the prisoners. I personally am completely on board with that and I agree. There is 100% a fine line between a petty criminal and a violent one. I will reinstate something you’ve stated. “I’m sure you’ve seen my ads on Twitter. While they say ‘hold law enforcement accountable’, i’m not talking about LSPD, BSCO, Troopers or even the Marshals, i’m talking about the Department of Corrections” End Quote – I will correct you on this and state that you ARE in fact, talking about all departments listed above. Once an Officer of the law makes an arrest, whether or not they are the PD, Sheriff, Marshal or State Trooper, they have the choice to either have that criminal sit inside the cells within these departments, or be taken to BBSP for correctional behavior. I will also state that the Department of Corrections are not “Law Enforcement” but Law Correctors. We do not have the power to make arrests, chase suspects or be it may of what Law Enforcement do. We have our own complete SOP’s to follow, that differ greatly from that of the Police Department and such.
I again, wish you the best in your campaign this season Mr. Dracul. My final statement is that we at DoC are not in control of who ends up within the prison and who does not. We are there merely to transport them from the various stations, to the walls, and then to make sure that they are looked after. Which in a literal sense, sure, they technically end up in BBSP because of us. Though it seems your issue sits within PD SOP’s and how they maintain arresting suspects. I would ask the people of this great state that if there is ANY sign of Officers within the Department showing any signs of mistreatment towards inmates, report it immediately. Thank you Shout News for reaching out to me for this piece.
Leave a Reply