from Mlive.com
by Cole Waterman
An ill-advised and shocking practical joke within the Saginaw County Jail has left a corrections officer out of job.
Earlier this month, Saginaw County Sheriff William L. Federspiel fired a correctional officer for allegedly stunning another officer with a department-issued Taser.
The incident happened within the facility at 311 S. Harrison St. in April.
While one officer was seated and writing a report, his colleague drew her Taser International X26 and used it to deliver a drive-stun under the man’s arm. The man fell from his chair and, as Federspiel said, was lucky to avoid hitting his head and suffering an injury.
The incident was captured by surveillance cameras, he added.
The two COs had not been arguing beforehand and no inmates were involved. The female CO thought her antic was a joke, Federspiel said.
“It isn’t funny at all,” the sheriff said. “We can’t tolerate any type of assault, whether it’s a joke or not.”
He added officers are not supposed to remove their weapons from their holsters unless it’s necessary to do so.
Administration placed the officer on administrative leave while they conducted an investigation. Federspiel fired her once the investigation was complete, saying she showed “very poor judgment.”Investigators have forwarded their reports to the Saginaw County Prosecutor’s Office. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson said Friday, June 14 , he will review the matter and plans to issue a decision shortly.The terminated officer is represented by the Police Officers Association of Michigan, or POAM. That agency’s Steve Sellers said he plans to meet with the fired officer to assess the situation and determine their next course of action.
The fired officer had been with the department since at least 2019, the year she received a lifesaving award. MLive is not divulging her name unless she is arraigned on a criminal charge.
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