DaaaihLoong writes "Melanie Schmid, #5992221, an inmate at Oregon's Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, is being harassed and intimidated by prison officers after allegedly reporting an inmate-officer relationship. Although Melanie did not blow the whistle, she has been subjected to unwarranted cell-ins as well as threats of disciplinary reports and segregation by CO Heflin (the officer in question), CO Jackson and others. Although Melanie has reported this intimidation to Captain Dickenson and Superintendent Palmateer, Heflin continues to work on the unit and the harassment continues.

Below is an excerpt from Melanie about the harassment:

"I had just moved back to H Unit. The inmate, Robb, came up on me all hostile and said, "Oh, I hear you wrote kytes on me and Heflin for having an affair." At first I laughed at her, then said, "If you're not doing anything, why are you tripping?" She continued on and on about how nothing could be proven.

Then, the male guard, CO Heflin, was removed from the unit. I was then told to report to the captain's office where I was informed that I had no disciplinary reports in over 2 years. (I can go to the Parole Board every three years provided I have no disciplinary action against me. I am scheduled to appear before the Parole Board in October 2003 if I continue to stay out of trouble)

I felt threatened. I was alone in a closed office with a male captain and a male sergeant after business hours. Captain Dickenson then told me that CO Heflin told him I stated, "I don't care if you're doing her. She doesn't throw my food." I told Dickenson, "Look. I do not talk like that and if I were reporting something like that, I'm not stupid enough to go to the officer and say it. I would report it to the unit manager."

Captain Dickenson said that he was going to order CO Heflin to write a Major Misconduct report if I actually said that. I told him that I had no idea if they were or were not doing anything. I did not care, but whatever was going on, I wanted to be left out of it.
After that meeting, I noticed that CO Heflin was in fact at this woman's cell door nineteen times in less than 1 1/2 hours. He would not complete a full check: he would go directly to cell 205, stand in front of the cell door, talk, laugh and then return to his desk without checking the other 53 cells. Not it is obvious that something strange is happening when every 7 to 9 minutes he is at that door.

CO Heflin returned to work on the unit. His first evening back, a female officer, CO Jackson, came onto H unit and was giving him the High Five and saying, "Oh yeah!" and "Now what?" and looking at the table where I sat. CO Heflin put his hand around her lower back. CO Jackson then approached me and said, "Okay, Schmid. I understand you have a vendetta against Heflin and are out to get him." I am stuck. I can't believe that this officer, who has always been one of the strictest, is saying this.

Later, I see Superintendent Palmateer on a call-out. She tells me that if the affair is going on, she'll take care of it. She tells me to stay out of trouble. I leave, believing that she will follow up. A week later, CO Heflin is still working the unit. Meanwhile, other inmates have made statements and kyted about his behavior. He himself told me it was not over, that he had not even been spoken to yet.

On December 7, 2002, I was scheduled to work taking photos. We break at dinner. After dinner, CO Heflin is on duty. I let him know that photos are still going on, but I cannot be in that room without security because of the phone and the computer. So he calls for help. An officer opens the door and I go to work. My boss still does not show up. She's late, but I'm trying to stay caught up. A woman has a seizure and the area ends up being closed. At about 8:10, I am taken to the Captain's office by Sergeant Yancy and a Rookie Amperson, who stated that I had cancelled photos after telling CO Heflin that security needed to be there to assist with photos. She then told the sergeant that I had been yelling after dinner that I was f**ing sick of this s**t and I f**g cancelled pictures. I knew it was not true. But the cops always back each other. I asked the sergeant to talk to the unit inmates, that there was a big misunderstanding. He refused. An hour later, I was given a cell-in for 9 1/2 hours, 1 1/2 longer than allowed, from 8 pm to 5:30 am on my day off for yelling in the day room and causing a disruption. Around 70 inmates were present. Had this in fact occurred, I'd have gone straight to the hole.

On December 10, a captain who is the Gang Security Threats Group manager calls me in and tells me that he thinks I control inmates. He wants me to sign a statement that if S. Foster gets hurt, Barrilee Bannister and I are going to segregation. I do not know what he is talking about. He then proceeds to tell me that if I did not comply, I would f*** off of focus group, my job, etc. I told him that I have no problem with Foster and don't even live on the same unit.

I am tired of being threatened. I've done nothing but can't get past a captain for help. I've written Security Manager N. Howton, Assistant Superintendent L. Humber and Superintendent Palamateer. No one has responded."

Please contact Joan Palmateer, Superintendent of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, and ask her why Melanie Schmid is being harassed and intimidated by staff members. Even if Schmid had reported Heflin's affair with an inmate, she should not be subjected to administrative retaliation nor should her complaints be ignored.

Joan Palmateer, Superintendent

24499 SW Grahams Ferry Rd

PO Box 9000

Wilsonville, OR 97070

phone: (503) 570-6412

fax: (503) 570-6417"