VOLUSIA EXPOSED

VOLUSIA EXPOSED.COM

Does the Volusia County Division of Corrections have a practice of disparate treatment regarding their employees

Why does a convicted felon get 100% of his personal leave pay, while a well respected officer only receives 20% ?

Is this incident indictative of why good officers don't rock the boat and expose corruption - they realize that they will be retaliated against?

Updated
November 4, 2011

"Your separation payout is in accord with prior employees.
I find no reason to deviate."
Volusia County Corrections Director, M.C. Ford

Back a few years ago, it was discovered that a convicted felon had been working as a Volusia County corrections officer for nearly twenty years. (as a convicted felon).

Once it was discovered that Officer Snider had continued to work as a corrections officer while also being a convicted felon, he was allowed to immediately resign, without needing to give the required two weeks notice. Officer Snider received his full retirement package and was paid all of his personal leave.

Notice how short and friendly Officer Snider's resignation letter is. Notice too, that he does NOT give the requirement two week notice.

Recently, Officer Gary Watkins retired from the Volusia County Division of Corrections. Gary had over 25 plus years in Volusia County law enforcement, between such agencies as the Tomoka State prison, VCSO, Beach Patrol and Corrections. A few years ago he was actually selected as the employee of the year for the entire Volusia County Department of Public Protection.

Gary does have one flaw. Well, some believe it's a flaw. Gary is an honest cop, and in the Volusia County Department of Public Protection, that can quickly put you on the wrong side of the political table.

We now invite you to read Officer Gary Watkins letter of resignation.

Notice that in Gary's letter, he accuses his department of violating state law. Obviously, Gary's letter is a little less friendly then Officer Snider's letter. Although, it is noted that at least Gary gave a nine day notice of his intent to retire (albeit - still not the fourteen days required by county policy).

Shortly after Gary retired, he receive his check for his personal leave time. He quickly realized that he had only been paid for 20% of his annual leave.

He was informed that, because he had not give the entire fourteen day notice, he was being penalized 80% of his personal leave, almost a $3000.00 penalty.

Gary, had the follow email communication with Volusia County Corrections Director Ford.

Director Ford reminds Gary that he failed to give the entire fourteen days notice, therefore, she sees no reason to deviate from past practice of penalizing the employee 80% of their personal leave pay.

Gary then appealed to Volusia County Personnel Director Tom Motes. Here is their email communication.

When Gary questions why an officer who worked as a convicted felon for nearly twenty years can receive his personal leave time at 100%, but he (Gary) can not - all Mr. Motes can do is state that Officer Snider had "extenuating circumstances quite diferent from yours".

We were very interested in what "extenuating circumstances" Mr. Motes was referring to, so we wrote him the below linked email and invited him to explain. Mr. Motes has not, as of this date, provided a response to our email.

VolusiaExposed.Com also gave Corrections Director Ford an opportunity to further explain why Officer Snider was fully paid, but Officer Watkins was not - expecially given the fact that she assured Officer Watkins that his "separation payout is in accord with prior employees." Director Ford has also failed to accept our invitation to respond.

Therefore, absent an explanation from Director Ford, VolusiaExposed holds the opinion that Corrections Director Ford lied. We further hold the opinion that withholding Officer Watkins' personal leave funds was a retaliatory act against Watkins' for the allegations contained in his retirement letter.

VolusiaExposed.Com ends with this thought - If bullshit were music, she would be a brass band!