Corrections staff pass vote of no confidence in NM warden, seek his replacement
AFSCME New Mexico members of Local 2499, the Bernalillo County Corrections Officer Association, are sounding the alarm on workplace issues affecting safety and staff morale at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (BCMDC).
Local 2499 members unanimously passed a vote of no confidence in BCMDC Warden Kai Smith last month, alleging mismanagement at the prison. BCMDC employees and the union submitted the no confidence vote at the June 9 county commissioner meeting.
Policy changes that cut corners have led to more safety problems and an increase in violence and deaths, the employees say.
Joseph Trujeque, president of Local 2499, said recent assaults on officers and simmering issues with Smith’s decision-making led to more than 300 BCMDC employees, including over 200 officers, signing the vote of no confidence.
Over the last 20 years, Local 2499 members have created high standards for officers to make their jobs safer, created fairer processes for shift and post bidding, and set up a clear channel of communications with management to ensure a secure facility. Now members are taking action to make sure they don’t lose two decades of progress.
Over 150 members, their families and community supporters attended the county commission meeting in solidarity. Local 2499 submitted over 1,000 petition signatures for a vote of no confidence. Twenty members spoke at the meeting, asking the commission to replace Smith with someone who understands the work needed to run a safe and efficient detention facility.
"He said he wanted to build leaders, empower staff and move MDC forward. Two years later, the facade has crumbled. This is not leadership. It is a chess game of strategic self-protection. He has positioned his pieces and hierarchy to keep himself from responsibility and all repercussions," Mary Rena, a 15-year BCMDC employee, said during the meeting.
Trujeque explained that Local 2499 has repeatedly raised concerns regarding deteriorating conditions, critically low staffing levels, and safety risks for both officers and inmates. He said members have received no response, underscoring the absence of leadership and accountability.
"Inmate-on-inmate violence is increasing. Assaults on staff are increasing. When supervisors raise legitimate safety concerns, they're often ignored or told, ‘Make it happen.' The consequences are becoming impossible to ignore," said BCMDC Lt. Donovan Greathouse in his remarks to the county commissioners.
Members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), a specialized unit of officers who respond to facility emergencies, resigned from this assignment because of these attacks and the lack of reasonable response from Warden Smith to address the increase in safety situations.
“We are calling for improvements in staffing and training, so we can continue to provide the highest quality of safety to those housed at MDC and our community. Our expertise on the job and our unified voice matters. That’s why Local 2499 members are fighting back and standing up for our jobs, our co-workers, the people housed at MDC, and the community we serve,” said Trujeque.
How you can help
Help AFSCME members of Local 2499 in their fight to persuade the Bernalillo County Commission to replace Smith with someone qualified who will work with front-line workers to improve inmate and staff safety at BCMDC and keep our community secure.
Add your name to the petition to supporting corrections officers in Bernalillo County New Mexico!