INTERVIEW SUMMARY

Case Number: 10-1228
Interviewee Name: [blanked out], Correctional Officer
Investigator Name: [blanked out], Corrections Specialist (Grievance Coordinator)
Interview Date: January 25, 2011
Interview Location: WSP IMU - North Sergeant's Office

On January 25, 2011, I met with Correctional Officer [blanked out] to discuss the PREA allegations brought by inmate David Troupe, DOC #765714. Officer [blanked out] reviewed and signed the Interview Acknowledgement form. I also showed him the transcript from the three (3) PREA hotline calls made by inmate Troupe so he understood the allegations being made against him.

Inmate Troupe has made the following allegations:

1. On October 19, 2012, while inmate Troupe was in the shower, Officer [blanked out] said "keep it up Troupe; looking good."

2. On October 27, 2010, Officer [blanked out] trashed inmate Troupe's cell during a cell search as retaliation because Troupe mentioned calling the PREA hotline.

3. On November 3, 2010, Officer [blanked out] "squeezed the top of my right butt cheek" and "rubbed his hand across both butt cheeks" under the pretence of checking the handcuffs applied by Officer [blanked out].

4. On November 9, 2010, Officer [blanked out] gave inmate Troupe a razor blade on the tray of his noon meal and told him "if you're gonna getter done, getter done right."

Officer [blanked out] told me that he knew inmate Troupe had filed or attempted to file grievances on him but he was not aware of the PREA claim until we met and I showed him the allegations. He knew about the grievances because Troupe would hand them to him. This generally occurred after [blanked out] had performed some security procedure that Troupe did not agree with. Some of them were RE PREA.

Based on the allegations made by inmate Troupe, I asked, and Officer [blanked out] answered, the following questions:

Q. On October 19, 2010, inmate Troupe was moved from the Westside of the unit to the Eastside. He was allowed recreation and then a shower. When inmate Troupe was in the shower, did you tell him, "keep it up; looking good Troupe?"

A. No. I did not make this statement then or at any other time.

Q. On October 27, 2010, did you search inmate Troupe's cell?

A. I don't recall if I did or not.

Q. Did you take/confiscate anything during the search (specifically legal documents/materials)?

A. I don't recall the search; so no. If I did take legal work, it would have been logged and he would have been infracted for having contraband or I would have taken it to the Sergeant for further investigation.

Q. He claims you were working the Westside of the unit that day (10/27) but he was housed on the Eastside. Why would you search his cell and not the officers assigned to the Eastside?

A. I would only work on the other side if needed but I didn't chose to work on the side of the unit where Troupe was housed. Any conflict I've had with Troupe was a direct reaction to security practices that he didn't like. I have not retaliated against Troupe for any reason.

Q. On November 3, 2010, did you escort Troupe to a (mental health) callout?

A. I don't specifically remember but I may have.

Q. Troupe says [blanked out] put the cuffs on him but that you reached over to check them and when doing so, you squeezed and rubbed his butt. Did you check the cuffs? Did you squeeze or rub his butt?

A. I did not squeeze or rub his butt. To do tat, I would have to extend my arms inside the cuff port beyond what would be comfortable or normal. I never touched Troupe's privates in any way. I do remember [blanked out] putting on the cuffs and I had to readjust them. I don't remember exactly what day that was. I had a better view of the cuffs because [blanked out] was off to the side of the cuff port and I could see in the cell window. I didn't go past Troupe's wrists to make the adjustment.

Q. While Troup was on his callout (on 11/3), did you search his cell?

A. I don't remember if I did or did not.

Q. Did you take anything from his cell (specifically pen/supplies)?

A. I don't remember.

Q. Did you "trash" his legal work during the search of 11/3?

A. I don't specifically remember a search that day but I have never trashed Troupe's cell. I perform searches and security checks all the time as a part of my regular duties so I don't (necessarily) remember any one specific search or security check.

Q. Have you deliberately chosen to work on the side of the unit where Troupe is housed?

A. No, I work where I'm assigned by the Sergeant. [handwritten note>]He lied about this, look at this other report.

Q. Have you ever made any slashing motions across your throat or wrist to Troupe?

A. Absolutely not. When checking offender's to ensure they have swallowed their medications, I sometimes motion across my mouth to indicate to them that they need to open their mouth and show me that they have not cheeked their meds.

Q. Did you give Troupe a razor blade on November 9th when you served his lunch saying "if you're gonna getter done, getter done right?"

A. No.

Q. Do you resent Troupe for filing this PREA claim against you?

A. I didn't know he had filed a PREA claim until today. I knew he had filed a grievance against me but it was determined that I didn't do anything wrong.

Q. Have you retaliated against Troupe for filing this PREA claim?

A. No. Again, I didn't know about this until today but I have never retaliated against him.

Q. Have you flipped Troupe off (in a manner so that it could not be seen by the camera)?

A. I have never flipped him off at all.

Q. Have you ever made homosexual comments and/or innuendos to any offender?

A. I have never made any homosexual comments or innuendos. I've never made any such statements.

I have reviewed the notes written above and agree they capture the intent of my comments.

[redacted]
Correctional Officer
2-4-11

===

INTERVIEW SUMMARY

Case Number: 10-1228
Interviewee Name: B [redacted], Correctional Officer
Investigator Name: D [redacted] Corrections Specialist (Grievance Coordinator)
Interview Date: February 8, 2011
Interview Location: WSP IMU - North

On February 8, 2011, I met with Correctional Officer B[redacted] to discuss the PREA allegations brought by Inmate David Troupe, DOC #765714, against Correctional Officer K[redacted] Officer M[redacted] reviewed and signed the Interview Acknowledgement form. He also read the transcript from inmate Troupe's PREA hotline calls.

Q. On October 27, 2010, did you search inmate Troupe's cell?

A. Every cell in IMU North is searched once a week at a minimum so I don't specifically recall this search.

Q. Did you take/confiscate anything during the search - specifically legal documents/materials?

A. If anything was taken, it would have been documented on a Search Report. When we do a search or security check, we usually grab the inmate's trash bag as a courtesy and because it's hard to push it through the wicket. We leave the trash bag outside the cell front so the inmate has a chance to talk to the Officer's about it in case there's something other than trash in the bag.

Q. He claims you were working the Westside of the unit that day but he was housed on the Eastside. Why would you search his cell and not the officers assigned to the Eastside?

A. I don't know if that's the case or not. If one side is doing yards and showers, the other side of the unit is usually on a down day so the officers from one side or the other will help with regular duties.

Q. On November 3, 2010, did you escort Troupe to a (mental health) callout?

A. I remember escorting him to mental health callouts several times but I din't recall this day specifically.

Q. Troupe says you applied the cuffs on him and then B[redacted] reached over to check them and when doing so, squeezed and rubbed his butt. Did Brodhead check the cuffs that you applied? If yes, is that normal practice? Did you see Brodhead squeeze or rub Troupe's butt?

A. B[redacted] did not squeeze or rub inmate Troupe's butt. That didn't happen. I do prefer to be the 2nd officer, the one who applies the cuffs, and B[redacted] has tightened cuffs that I've applied. Inmates sometimes flex their wrists when cuffs are applied so they are loose. The number 1 officer does have a better view in the cell window so B[redacted] could have seen that the cuffs needed to be adjusted. This is something we deal with every day so I don't recall this specifically because it was not an event.

Q. While Troupe was on his callout (on 11/3), did you search his cell?

A. I could have. At a minimum, a security check is done every time an inmate leaves their cell. We also try to perform cell searches while an inmate is out of his cell for shower and yard.

Q. Did you take anything from his cell (specifically pen/supplies)?

A. I would have to see the documentation to be able to answer. The only time we take a pen is when it has clearly been misused.

Q. Did you "trash" his legal work during the search of 11/3?

A. No. If anything was taken, it would have been documented.

[author's note: Take notice] Q. Have you deliberately chosen to work on the side of the unit where Troupe is housed?

[author's note: He admits to them working where they want.] A. No. There is a schedule of where to work but on 2nd shift, staff decide among themselves where they are going to work. B[redacted] works the Eastside a lot but not because he prefers that side. He doesn't really care where he works and other officers prefer to work the Westside so B[redacted] will work the Eastside. You get in a routine and officers get used to working a particular side but Brodhead really doesn't care where he works.

Q. Have you ever seen B[redacted] make any slashing motions across his throat or wrist to Troupe?

A. No. It's difficult to hear through the cell doors so we often make hand motions like waving a hand under your chin when saying no.

Q. When serving inmates a meal, what is the normal practice? Is the tray served by one staff or are there two staff present every time a cuff port is opened?

A. We set the trays up on the counter. Both officers go to the cell door. One officer holds the trap while the other opens the wicket. For speed and convenience, one officer will take a tray to the first cell, open the wicket and serve the tray.

Q. Inmate Troupe claims that Officer B[redacted] gave him a razor blade. The razor was blue. Have you ever had blue razors in the unit?

A. I can't ever remember having any blue razors in the unit. I've been here for over three years and the razors have always been orange.

I have reviewed the notes written above and agree they capture the intent of my comments.

[redacted]
B[redacted] Correctional Officer
2/14/11