Timothy J. Muise, #W66927
Unit E-2, Cell No. #55-B
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA 01464-1218

May 16, 2012

Ms. Kelly Ryan
Superintendent
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA
01464-1218

Re: INCIDENT INVOLVING SGT. OJA & RELIGIOUS "PYX"

Dear Superintendent Ryan:

On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at approximately 12:05 pm., Sgt. Oja entered my cell in Unit E-2 and removed a Catholic "Pyx", which is a sacred vessel in which the Holy Eucharist is stored. This Pyx was assigned to me by Deacon Art Rogers so that the Eucharist would be available to the Catholic population at our Tuesday evening services. This was required due to the fact that we are locked out of our chapel on Tuesday nights and forced to hold our Eucharistic Celebration in a classroom in the School building.

As soon as I learned, from C.O. Lee, that Sgt. Oja had seized my Pyx, I asked where Sgt. Oja was and C.O. informed me he was in Unit E-1. I asked C.O. Lee if I could go over there to speak with him and he allowed me to do so. I don't want to bore you with all the details but in a nutshell Sgt. Oja was his usual condescending self, treated me as if I were less than him, and refused to listen to reason about the Pyx and its usage. He would not return it to me, threatened me that he was "reporting the incident to the IPS, and that it was his job to enforce policy." It saddens me that corrections has spiraled into an occupation where $65,000.00 per year sergeants are reduced to seizing religious materials from men who seek to change their lives through Christ. Sgt. Oja is a whole other story. He is the reason why corrections officials get no respect in the public forum.

My deepest concerns here are that Sgt. Oja will treat "the pre-consecrated and living body of Christ", which was what was in my Pyx, with less than the due respect it requires. Further, was it required that Sgt. Oja seize this item and then subject me to his demeaning attitude? My hopes are that you understand it is very important the Unit Team sergeant be a man with people skills. This is certainly not Sgt. Darell Oja.

I must afford you one added point to the Sgt. Oja aspect of this. After I spoke to him about the Pyx, and after I went to my Rosary Prayer Group, he went back into my cell, flipped my mattress, moved around some of my legal work, and just basically acted childish and unprofessional. I am certainly not at all surprised, but that does not mean I will keep quiet about it.

Men choose not to attend the CRA because Sgt. Oja runs roughshot over there attempting to impress a female employee. Men bring housing issues to Sgt. Oja and he orders them to lock in their cell, knowing they want to fight each other. Sadistic. Sgt. Oja makes rounds with Deputy DiNardo and is nice as pie. Then he comes back on his own and spews venom and hatred. Will the real Sgt. Oja please step forward. This cannot be the vision you have for your high-ranking supervisors.

Can you please ensure that my Catholic Pyx is safe and that it is returned to me, as assigned by Deacon Art Rogers. Not only did Sgt. Oja make it seem like I had "breached the trust of the state", but he also made it sound like Deacon Rogers had lain the foundation for revolution by giving Christ to me to care for. I guess the days of guards worrying about knives, drugs, escapes and real security threats have been replaced with zeal to re-crucify our Lord and God. Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do.

Thank you for your time and anticipated sane intervention in this matter. My prayers will be to get my Pyx back safe and respected very soon.

Very Sincerely Yours,
Timothy J. Muise, #W66927
MCI Shirley
P.O. Box 1218
Shirley, MA
01464-1218

cc: file
Att. Reinstein