Three prison guards were fired and a fourth was suspended after reports indicate the men encouraged a mock fashion show that involved ten female inmates of the Bedford County Jail in Shelbyville, Tennessee. According to Sheriff's office administrator Larry Lowman, the inmates "used their prison uniforms and anything else for the fashion show". The items modeled by the inmates included a bikini made from a sweatshirt.
"Obviously, they exercised very poor judgment," District Attorney Chuck Crawford said Friday night. Crawford referred further questions about the incident to Sheriff Randall Boyce and Larry Lowman. Details of the incident were made public after a joint investigation by the Bedford County Sheriff's department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
According to reports, Alma Cantu's attention was obtained by the inmates at about 7 p.m. on November 11. Cantu, 52, proceeded to watch the evening fashion show through a large security window. Three other male guards —Jason Carden, 24, Steven Qualls, 32, and Jamie Farris, 20, — watched the inmates on security monitors, Lowman and Boyce said.
The idea for the so-called fashion show began with the female inmates, Lowman said. "This is the kind of thing that's hurt other sheriff's departments."
Boyce said, "As soon as it happened, we called [the district attorney] and told him so another department could look into it other than ours."
According to Lowman, the fashion show lasted approximately 7-10 minutes. There were other antics involved as well.
"There were some remarks made over the intercom into that [cell] block," Lowman said. "One of the guards asked a particular female to blow into the speaker ... box of the intercom [which doubles as a microphone] and as she did, he put his microphone down to his crotch."
Lowman and Boyce stated that it hasn’t been revealed which guard asked the inmate to blow into the intercom.
"We don't tolerate that," Boyce said of the behavior.
Lowman also said that one of the guards also took pictures with the camera on his cell phone but later deleted them.
It was Jamie Farris, the youngest employee, who reported the activities. As a result, an investigation was launched by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The report revealed there was no physical contact between the guards and inmates during the show.
As a result, Farris was suspended without pay for 18 days while the other three guards were fired.
"He was the youngest one," Boyce said in explanation. He added that Farris was apparently going along with what older guards were doing.
"It was their job to stop it and not socialize with the inmates," Boyce said.
As punishment, the inmates involved in the incident had their privileges and work release opportunities revoked. Some of the inmates involved have since completed their sentences and have been released.
"Obviously, they exercised very poor judgment," District Attorney Chuck Crawford said Friday night. Crawford referred further questions about the incident to Sheriff Randall Boyce and Larry Lowman. Details of the incident were made public after a joint investigation by the Bedford County Sheriff's department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
According to reports, Alma Cantu's attention was obtained by the inmates at about 7 p.m. on November 11. Cantu, 52, proceeded to watch the evening fashion show through a large security window. Three other male guards —Jason Carden, 24, Steven Qualls, 32, and Jamie Farris, 20, — watched the inmates on security monitors, Lowman and Boyce said.
The idea for the so-called fashion show began with the female inmates, Lowman said. "This is the kind of thing that's hurt other sheriff's departments."
Boyce said, "As soon as it happened, we called [the district attorney] and told him so another department could look into it other than ours."
According to Lowman, the fashion show lasted approximately 7-10 minutes. There were other antics involved as well.
"There were some remarks made over the intercom into that [cell] block," Lowman said. "One of the guards asked a particular female to blow into the speaker ... box of the intercom [which doubles as a microphone] and as she did, he put his microphone down to his crotch."
Lowman and Boyce stated that it hasn’t been revealed which guard asked the inmate to blow into the intercom.
"We don't tolerate that," Boyce said of the behavior.
Lowman also said that one of the guards also took pictures with the camera on his cell phone but later deleted them.
It was Jamie Farris, the youngest employee, who reported the activities. As a result, an investigation was launched by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The report revealed there was no physical contact between the guards and inmates during the show.
As a result, Farris was suspended without pay for 18 days while the other three guards were fired.
"He was the youngest one," Boyce said in explanation. He added that Farris was apparently going along with what older guards were doing.
"It was their job to stop it and not socialize with the inmates," Boyce said.
As punishment, the inmates involved in the incident had their privileges and work release opportunities revoked. Some of the inmates involved have since completed their sentences and have been released.
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