Inmates transferred to Scurry County facility
Fisher County Sheriff Simon Wade confirmed on Monday that he decided to depopulate the Fisher County Jail on Friday, August 18, due to staffing concerns and officer safety after two employees were placed on administrative leave. It is unknown when the jail will again be housing inmates, and an investigation into possible criminal charges against one employee is currently ongoing.
Only days after recently appointed Fisher County Sheriff Simon Wade spoke to commissioners and members of the public last week about his plan for the jail and an inmate trustee program, Wade depopulated the facility, citing concerns for officer safety due to insufficient staffing numbers. Wade transported a total of four inmates to the Scurry County Jail in Snyder.
“I’m worried about someone getting injured,” said Wade during an interview on Monday, “I was unaware just how low our staffing numbers were. The staff has kept this jail open by hanging on with their fingernails. It is commendable. However, it has reached a level of risk to officer safety that I am not comfortable with.”
Wade admitted that at first glance it would appear the jail is moving backward but it is a step forward, commending the current staff for their loyal and diligent work, despite the negativity of others. Providing further explanation, Wade touched on the series of events that led to his decision.
Wade said he was following up on an internal sexual harassment claim, which was recently brought to local and Texas Association of Counties (TAC) human resources consultants. The recommendation was to place employees in supervisory roles on paid administrative leave until an investigation into the allegations could be conducted.
Fisher County Chief Deputy James Torrez and Fisher County Jail Administrator Robin Cleveland were each placed on paid administrative leave late last week pending the outcome of that investigation. Chief Torrez returned to work on Monday of this week.
Torrez declined to comment directly on the brief suspension from duty but conveyed his appreciation to the public for their support and is pleased to be back on patrol. Sheriff Wade said Torrez’s involvement in the situation was largely unfounded and said he believes the matter to be closed.
In an official statement to law enforcement staff on Monday, Wade informed personnel that Cleveland was no longer an employee of Fisher County, instructing them in an email the Chronicle obtained that: “Employees will not discuss any workrelated topics with Robin Cleveland.”
The email also informed employees that the administrative investigation had developed into a criminal investigation. Wade confirmed the criminal investigation was internal, and no outside agencies have been contacted regarding this matter. Wade declined to comment further as the investigation is ongoing.
Wade informed the public and commissioners on Monday that he had contacted the Texas Rangers regarding the mismanagement of evidence at the jail, however, it is not believed the two incidents are related at this time.
The Chronicle also obtained an email that referenced actions taken by Cleveland after being notified of her temporary suspension and instruction not to return to work until the investigation was completed. The email from Sheriff Wade to Cleveland states: “You returned with the Fisher County Clerk and the Fisher County Auditor with cardboard boxes in hand, demanding entry into your office to recover your personal belongings.”
The email goes on to state that Cleveland's office was left in a state of disarray after the removal of her belongings and that the removal of personal effects expresses a desire not to return. The email concludes: “We have determined your actions clearly show your intent to never return and we accept this as your resignation. Your resignation has been accepted and your employment has officially ended as of Sunday, August 20, 2023.”
Wade said while the investigation into any criminal actions is ongoing, the results would be presented to the district attorney’s office as soon as possible. “I want to get this taken care of as quickly as possible,” said Wade. “I have other things that are more important at this stage.”
Cleveland declined to comment at this time until she had an opportunity to speak with legal counsel.
During a follow-up interview earlier this week, Wade confirmed that he has been in contact with the Lubbock County Jail regarding his recent agreement to house inmates at the Fisher County facility and that Lubbock officials are aware of the situation and were appreciative of the notification. Wade said he does not anticipate the depopulation hindering future agreements with Lubbock County, saying he expects to begin housing those inmates when the jail repopulates.
Wade was hesitant to provide a timeline for the jail’s reopening, saying that he plans to take full advantage of the lack of inmates to improve infrastructure, especially regarding the upgrades to camera equipment and other safety concerns within the facility. Additionally, Wade said over the next few months, he plans to offer a series of training courses with the goal of increasing employee certifications and skillsets.
Wade said despite the jail not currently housing inmates overnight, during daytime hours, arrested offenders would be booked and magistrated in Fisher County before being transferred to Scurry County if confinement was necessary. Wade assured the public that plans to seek individuals with outstanding warrants and that officers would continue making arrests without impairment.
“I am not slowing down on warrants and will be aggressively making arrests on those individuals in violation of crimes,” said Wade. “[Depopulation] will not affect our law enforcement side of the operations, and we will find them.”