Prison officials being probed

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Five area prison officials have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into alleged employee misconduct. One is related to Corrections Department Secretary Joe Williams.

Tia Bland, spokesperson for the New Mexico Corrections Department, confirmed that one of the men is the brother-in-law of Joe Williams, secretary of the New Mexico Corrections Department; however, she would not name the five or discuss the specific allegations against them.

"These employees are entitled to due-process," Bland said, adding that state law prohibits her from detailing personnel matters. Asked if the details may ever be made public, Bland said the details could be made public after the investigation is completed, but there were no guarantees.

The five work for Western New Mexico Corrections Facility on the outskirts of Grants on Lobo Canyon Road. It is a state-owned facility.

Bland said the five are three corrections officers, a lieutenant and a captain. "This is paid administrative leave," Bland said.

"Four of the five were put on paid administrative leave on Jan. 14, and the fifth person was placed on paid administrative leave on Jan. 25," Bland said.

The investigation is being conducted by a private Albuquerque investigative company. "This company was hired by the corrections department," Bland said.

Bland said when the employee misconduct allegations broke, the corrections department officials made the determination that more information was needed. "There was enough preliminary information that we saw the need for it to be fully investigated," Bland said.

However, since one of those targeted in the probe is related to the corrections department secretary, department officials decided an independent investigation needed to be done. A few days were needed to find the investigative firm best suited to do the probe.

"That's why we have an outside investigator doing the investigation," Bland said. "We want to avoid a conflict of interest."

Bland said she has no idea how long the probe will take. "We want this to be a thorough investigation," Bland said.

Investigators are expected to show up at Western New Mexico Corrections Facility today.