Correctional officers claim abuse at youth detention

RENO - Four former or present correctional officers at the Nevada Youth Training Center in Elko have filed lawsuits claiming their concerns about physical abuse of boys at the center led to their discipline, dismissal or resignation.

In addition, a former inmate at the state-run center contends two other correctional officers dislocated his shoulder and injured one of his eyes.

Combined, the five suits seek unspecified amounts in general, compensatory and punitive damages, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported Tuesday.

The Nevada attorney general's office has filed motions to dismiss four of the five lawsuits that were filed in U.S. District Court in Reno over the past year. The other suit was filed recently and the state has not received it, Deputy Attorney General Charles Hilsabeck said.

Joe Gonzales, a former correctional officer, alleges in his suit that he discussed with top NYTC officials ''the lack of use of force policies at the institution, abuse of force incident at the institution, and a general policy of failing to recognize the rights of those incarcerated at the facility.''

Three other suits by correctional officers are similar and add that the FBI is investigating the allegations.

An FBI spokesman in Las Vegas said the investigative report was submitted to the civil rights section of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., for further consideration, the newspaper reported.

Edwin C. Burgess, superintendent at the center that was designed for some of Nevada's most incorrigible juvenile offenders, disputed Gonzales' allegation that there is no policy on use of force.

''We do have a written policy on it and it is consistent with a nationally accepted method called non-violent crisis intervention,'' Burgess said.

''I have terminated, suspended and reprimanded'' correctional officers for mistreating boys, he said.

The correctional officers' suits were filed against Burgess, Assistant Superintendent Dale E. Warmuth and Head Group Supervisor Paul N. Anderson by Reno lawyer Jeff Dickerson.

''They are disgruntled employees,'' Burgess said of the correctional officers. ''These were employees who had trouble with the system.''

Besides Gonzales, lawsuits were also filed by former correctional officers Mark Edgington and Robert N. Warner and correction officer Wendy Shirrill, who is still employed at the center.

Another lawsuit was filed by former inmate Armstrong Holmes, now a 19-year-old employee at a concrete company in Las Vegas.

Armstrong contends in his complaint against Burgess, Anderson and correctional officers John Adams and Shane Agee that he was abused by the officers.

Holmes alleges Agee dislocated his shoulder and that Adams hit him in the eye.