Sheriff's Deputies Launch Chris Collins' Jail Web Site

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Oct 25, 2011, 09:06 ET

Excessive Forced Overtime, Dangerous Conditions, and Wasteful Spending at County Jail

BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Erie County Sheriff's Deputies and Teamsters Local 264 launched a public information campaign today to highlight dangerous working conditions, wasteful spending and excessive forced overtime at the Erie County Jail.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

As part of the campaign, the deputies are unveiling a new website, www.chriscollinsjail.com, where the public can learn more about how County Executive Chris Collins' refusal to address excessive forced overtime at the jail is taking a terrible toll on sheriff's deputies' health and family life.

"Executive Chris Collins' refusal to hire new deputies violates safety standards set by the New York State Commission of Corrections, wastes taxpayer money, and forces sworn officers to serve hard time that is tearing their families apart," said Mary Holl, President of Teamsters Local 264.

According to the latest information available from the New York State Commission of Corrections, the Holding Center is short by 40 Sheriff's Deputies. The current staffing shortage causes enormous amounts of forced overtime, whereby some deputies are being forced to work 16 hours straight on each of three, four or five days a week.

"For several years, we've waited patiently for the Executive to do the responsible thing," said Holl. "But it's clear that the County Executive would rather brush the problems at the jail under the rug than authorize the Sheriff to hire the additional deputies needed to keep officers, inmates and the public safe."

In the coming weeks the Teamsters will also roll out additional advertisements to shed light on the County Executive's failure to address the deteriorating conditions at the jail. For more information, please see www.chriscollinsjail.com

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 264