During my interview with NorCo DA Steve Baratta last week, he expressed particular concern about the jail. That facility has experienced three inmate suicides in approximately three months, including two in one week. "And they don't call us," noted Baratta. "They don't call Easton police. They don't even call the coroner [except for the last suicide]. They just clean them up, call the EMT and make them go to the hospital with the dead body. And that's how we find out about it." He indicated that law enforcement should alwayus be summoned to investigate and make sure no crimes were committed. "It's part of transparency in government."
He believes part of the problem is the result of a critical shortage of corrections officers. The county has only been able to fill about half of these m[ositions, which leads to mandated overtinme, 16-hour shifts and exhausted guards.
He believes Executive Tara Zrinski is well aware of the problem.
Baratta believes that Zrinski took office with "rose-colored glasses," but is beginning to understand "how overwelming some of the issues are right now."
He acknowledged that the county is at a "low point right now", but adds that Zrinski understands that, and we'll see."
He believes Zrinski was getting bad advice from former Exec Lamont McClure. "I believe he was motivated to have her undertake his problems and shield himself from criticism because once she understands the problem and acts, people turn away from the last administration and say 'Well, now it's your problem, get it done.'"
Baratta believes that Zrinski was led to believe that the county's financial problems were manageable, but no longer has that view.
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