Local Government TV

Monday, September 25, 2017

Ten Weeks After Suspension, Collins Still in Limbo at NorCo Jail

One or two weekends ago, the Easton NAACP has its annual summer picnic. Northampton County Executive candidate Lamont McClure was there. Executive John Brown apparently went to the wrong venue, though he did try to attend. It's unfortunate that he missed it. In addition to missing out on some excellent food, Brown also lost out on an opportunity to hear constituents who are a shade darker than he sees among the so-called Lehigh Valley elite. They have questions, and they vote. One of those questions is why Brown has allowed David Collins, the County's first ever black captain at the jail, to sit in limbo. He's been suspended (the county calls it "administrative leave") for nearly three months Corrections and HR Directors Dan Keen and Amy Trapp look for an excuse to fire him. They'll wait until after the election before lowering the boom because it might cost Brown votes on Easton's south side. A second question is whether Keen and Trapp might have interfered with a possible criminal investigation.

I've told you about Collins before. He rose through the ranks to become the jail's first African American captain at a jail with only one captain and in a county where minorities have been historically under-represented. In his 15 years with the county, he has never been disciplined for any infraction. Though he's a big man, he has an artistic side and sometimes teaches inmates how to draw at night. His evaluations have all been off the charts. Though he's a big man, he has an artistic side and sometimes teaches inmates how to draw at night. But on July 13, he was suspended and walked out of the jail for "unfounded allegations" concerning Corrections Director Dan Keen.

Some months before the rug was pulled out from under him, Collins was at a training seminar with Keen and several lieutenants. While he was sitting in a training session, Collins received a text from Keen, asking him to meet him in the hotel lobby because Keen wanted to talk to him. When Collins met him there, Keen suggested that the two go to the hospitality room for some privacy.

Alone, Keen asked Collins what he had heard about Keen's so-called "double life."

Keen said that at different training events, he had heard that from people in other counties but had no idea what was meant by it.

Keen eventually dropped the matter, but Collins noticed that he was treated differently after that day. Whatever this "double life" is, Keen wants nothing said about it.

Collins tells me he had a hearing before HR Director Amy Trapp and Keen on August 25. When he asked her why he had been suspended, she told him, "It's for your protection." And then, like Nancy Drew on The Case of the Floating Crime, she drifted from one topic to the next in an effort to find something ... anything with which to hammer him.

"We'll get back to you," she said when it was over.

The reality is that Collins is a whistleblower, as I told you before. He is being victimized for reporting, in good faith, instances of wrongdoing or waste. He was even grilled over his contacts with me, all of which were initiated by me and after his suspension.

What bothers me more than anything is his investigation into the assault of one female inmate by another. Collins reviewed video of the incident, which shows this inmate walking into the open cell of another, after which she was physically assaulted and ended up with a broken nose.

The assaulted inmate's cell door had been left open. That could happen only if the corrections officer in that area was either negligent or in on it.

The corrections officer was suspended (with pay) while Collins investigated. He turned over the video and his own findings to Keen.

After a few months, Trapp reinstated this corrections officer with no discipline. She told Collins the information he provided was insufficient.

He asked whether she reviewed the video.

"What video?" was her answer.

Keen sat on evidence of what was definitely evidence of criminal assault by an inmate. He sat on what might also be a conspiracy involving a corrections officer. He is required by his own Code of Ethics to furnish that information. I think it's unlikely that the corrections officer acted criminally, but that determination should be made by a District Attorney.

Not Keen. Not Trapp.

When administrators at the jail turn their heads the other way, corruption begins.

We need more people like David Collins at the jail, not fewer.

By the way,since his suspension on July 13 with pay, the taxpayers of Northampton County have shelled out
$10,000 in salary, and about 70% that amount in benefits, so that Collins can sit and do nothing. .

Is this fiscally responsible?

37 comments:

  1. How is this possible...oh yea I forgot because they do what they want Mr.Keen has flip this jail upside down with his macho b.s..
    . And yet they allow him.my question is where are all the minority at there isn't any in human resource in administrative. Or the union this is a proublem.

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  4. Amy makes 120 thousand to sit and do nothing so what's the prouble.

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  5. well the inmate who was assaulted could sue for negligent actions by the guards.
    showing that the incident was basically swept under the rug does not help the guards at all.
    if anything a jury would see the cover up for what it is.
    a cover up.
    trying to ignore the video is just insane.
    any attorney can have a field day with the
    County's actions.

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    1. I thank you for saying that I can sue about the matter because I am the inmate that got assaulted and know that the c.o on the unit was behind it and allowed the unit to do it. The guard has been doing many corrupt things in that jail throughout the years and always allowed to continue to return back to work. I will not let this matter get swept under the rug. I was assaulted and still was forced to do 30 days in the whole for it. Thank you again for opening my eyes even more about how lightly they are taking this severe matter. Capt. Collins is an amazing person and really showed me respect and concern during this matter. I'm shocked at what has happened to him.

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  6. I accidentally deleted 12:53, which is as follows:

    "They have nothing on him .there action are repulsive .and amy and her squad got to go .how much more unfairness do we have to endure.they have no respect for correction they have no clue what we go threw...and I hope captain Collins sue them for discrimination because it lives right here in Northampton county and I feel as I speak for all minority "

    I am deleting 12:58. I will not allow an anonymous vulgar attack, even if it is against someone who I think is bad for the county.

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  7. 70% in benefits? What the heck is that for? Is that a county-wide figure?

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  8. sounds like Captain Collins is not innocent until proven guilty.
    he is not even guilty till proven innocent.
    he is just considered guilty.
    it does not matter at all that he did what he was supposed to do.
    he is guilty because the powers that be have decided he is guilty.

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  9. KEEN .double life interesting

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  10. Lamont McClure will get to the bottom of this after we elect him into office.

    This and many other instances will be looked into and corrected.

    I’m voting for Lamont and also voting all incumbents out of office. Pulling straight D this time, not straight R like I did 4 years ago.

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  11. There is a lot more waste coming out. How about all the legal fees being pissed away since Trapp started. Can't wait to vote them all out!!!!

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  12. Once again, a one sided view. You make Collins look like an angel. He has a habit of going outside the chain of command. How do you think he got the captain job. They passed over 13 people to give him the job because of his behind the door politics and now it's bit him in the ass. The jail is not a place for this type of behavior. Trust among all is the glue that keeps the jail safe. He broke that trust. I say let him go.

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    1. I take it your one of the ppl passed over and your pissed off we get it but don't need more corrupt ppl running things

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  13. I'm confused, who's the gay one?

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  14. Sounds like a Brown/Allen/Trapp/Keen concoction. Where is the illustrious County Council in all this? The authoritarian county government must all go!

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  15. Terrible. A girl in my office was just threatened with termination after exposing how our boss has been stealing time from us, so this seems like a pattern with HR.

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  16. "Once again, a one sided view. You make Collins look like an angel. He has a habit of going outside the chain of command"

    Actually, he went thru the chain of command but Keen refused to get back to him. If there is evidence of obstruction, you go right over people' heads.

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  17. "Terrible. A girl in my office was just threatened with termination after exposing how our boss has been stealing time from us, so this seems like a pattern with HR."

    I am aware of that situation.

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  18. 7.18
    and how long does it take to decide on what charges if any are to be brought?
    their is no excuse.
    either he did something wrong or not.

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  19. No one cares this is unreal .how can the tramp team keep breaking all the rules and still have there jobs.

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  20. In my blog, I have written twice now that he has been suspended for supposed "unfounded allegations." He is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.

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  21. What, Biggie Smalls???

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  22. Regarding the inmate assault and Mr keen covering it up should be review by the District artorneys office. Is Mr Brown going to hold mr keen accountable?. Mr Brown why is it that Mrs trapp is permitted to violate county policies at will, without been held accountable unless she is acting under your orders. I wonder if someone with the Brown administration checked Mr keen references and background. Maybe, Mr. Brown should talk to Mr Miller in Franklin county.

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  23. Bernie, as a ladd I had allways been taught to get to a snake its head must be lopped! From your words though, I take it that if lower venues let crmes pass than go over there heads, thats the proceedure and methodolgy.

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  24. I miss 'Chris Biggie Smalls' Wallace.

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  25. This is a shame that someone like Collins could be treated so dirty.It dont matter how he got the job, some one saw he was worthy of having it.Sounds like someone is bitter, and it just goes to show how folks can scream hosanna one day, and crucify him the next. Damn Shame. I've known him all my life, he is a good man.

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  26. Can we please get some good solid facts for why Mr.Collins is not in his position. I have heard nothing but good about this gentleman. Where are some hard solid facts that this man has participated in any wrong doing. If you cant present them to the people, give this man back his job while he is still willing to take it. Signed WHERESTHEFREAKINGTRUTH!

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  27. MR.collins if they fire you on some BS.call channel 69 and everyone you know a d you do know a lot of people and tell them your story I'm sure you will have a lot of people that would have your back.tell them the trapp and the double life Mr Keen..how they just messed everything up
    The prison morale is at there lowest this is a county facility not a state prison ...going to work under this man is like going to a war

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  28. mr keen and Amy trapp need to go they are under handed to say the least, I met Mr. Collins one time , when my husband was forced to retire because of his health hr could not take the risk as an corrections officer any longer he could still work at another position but he was totally shut down, Mr. Keen was in the next office and the guy under amy was doing the dirty work for them, he was not even decent enough to come and shake his hand and thank him for his good job as 10 years as an corrections officer, and he was good at it. No other position in the whole county even thou he was also a college graduate to. Nothing, work at the prison or made to quit, That was the choice. so he took early retirement not that he wanted to but was made to. he had to clean out his locker other so called good friends Lt.'s were there and not one talked to him. We ran into mr. Collins at the door on the way in and he took the time to speak to us and thanked my husband for a job well done, and he would be missed but maybe better leaving this way than like a fellow corrections officer died on the way to work like 2 weeks early. he wished us the best and shook his hand like he totally deserved. and only he did it no one else. Now my husband has passed a lot earlier than we expected but he is at peace, he had the honor guards at his service and they presented our family with a flag, Honor guards that were never there before for other corrections officers that my husband hated that the county did not have that in place and I know he was trying his best to get it in place. The men and women deserve it, not just the police. I am thankful for the bag piper and the honor guards that honored my husband. They were a warm welcome and an honored one because my husband deserved that. But answer me this my husband's service was very large with friends, family, co workers, The Mason's because he was a mason to.But who shows up a man I never met and could not come over to a room and thank my husband for his service to every one in that prison, for the time he spent there. He shows up at his funeral service to say he is sorry for our loss.But Mr. Keen??????? I can not say if Mr. Collins was there or not, if he was thank you you deserved to be there. I can honestly say It upset me more with Mr. Keen showing up, after how he had no respect for us or my husband when it should have been done when he was alive.

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  29. I hope CPT Collins sees your comment. It will warm his heart. I hope HR sees your comment. It will show them that they need improvement. I will assume that Keen came out and thanked your husband. If he did not, he does not belong where he is.

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  30. The Human Service's civil service analyst has been out with pay for as long as Mr. Collins. What did she do? Catch another employee sleeping on the job. What are they doing to investigate the situation? It is done, the person resigned. How about doing something about the position? They have so.... many people in HR now, there should be no delay in getting anything done. Come on, why not do your job?

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  31. It seems to me that huge push to "break up the boy's club" years ago only provided for a new one.
    Keen's right hand man (Colon) is rumored to have been at the very least, a colleague or as i heard it, a supervisor at State. So much for the outcry about Buskirk and HIS cronies...
    And fiscal responsibility? Where? In the purchase, installation of dozens of cameras and the software to run them...and yet little or no video captures of once-puffed "problem officers" to speak of? Of course this is all after Keen called in State DOC to conduct the "shake-up shake down" that was widely covered and yeilded ZERO results.
    Corrections staff from a captain-down are being walked out for what? Whistleblowing to minor infractions of policy...while the seated director double-dips (also rumored) by being paid his county salary and teaching/lecture fees (presumably) while on county time? Isn't that theft by way of fraud? Is this being investigated by the DA?

    While the coverage of Mr Collins is noteworthy, it pales in the overall malfeasance being perpetrated by those hired to "change the way the prison was/is run."
    No...it appears to me that NOTHING has changed at all.

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  33. You'll have to attach your name to that comment.

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  34. Told ya long ago about this corrupt jail. You blew me off.

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  35. This was a while ago, My late husband worked with this man and never had any bad words about him or how he did his job or treated people. Now can not say the same about Keen or Amy, and that is on a up front personal standing about them they were a disgrace to the jail and all of there employees. They should have been kicked to the road sooner than when they went. They would rather stab you in the back along with some others. Than really help you out. I thank Captain Collins for everything he has stood for and the honest person he is to this day.

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