Department of Corrections Announces Investigation at Union Correctional

TALLAHASSEE- The Florida Department of Corrections announced today the preliminary findings of recent use of force incidents at Union Correctional Institution. The Department’s Inspector General opened several investigations involving both current and former employees.

Based on the information gathered at this point, Secretary Ken Tucker requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement join the investigation and assume the lead role working in conjunction with the Department’s Office of the Inspector General.   

Some staff members have been placed on administrative leave to ensure the integrity of the investigations.  In addition, Secretary Tucker has made some immediate leadership changes at Union Correctional Institution, including the appointment of Warden Diane Andrews, a 30 year veteran of the Florida Department of Corrections.

“The mission of the Department is to ensure public safety, officer safety and inmate safety,” said Deputy Secretary Mike Crews. “We take this mission very seriously and we will not tolerate any actions by any members of this Agency contrary to that mission.”

At this time, the following employees have been placed on Administrative Leave pending the investigation:

• Assistant Warden Nan Jeffcoat
• Lieutenant Joseph Allen
• Sergeant Darryl Phillips
• Officer Kenneth Warren
• Officer David Brooks

These allegations do not represent the majority of correctional professionals who work in Florida’s prisons and do their jobs with the highest degree of professionalism under very difficult circumstances.

###

---

As Florida's largest state agency, the Department of Corrections employs more than 25,000 members statewide, oversees more than 100,000 inmates and supervises nearly 150,000 offenders in the community.

Partnering for Fewer Crimes, Less Victims, Safer Communities. Visit our website at www.dc.state.fl.us. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.