Rikers Guards: Sleeping on Job, Sleeping with Inmates

A correction officer at Rikers snapped this priceless photo of another guard fast asleep in her chair while a grinning inmate hovers over, mere inches from her big Barney Fife keys. The sleeping officer, Nadja Green, has been at Rikers for over four years, and one source describes her as "the Precious of Corrections," a reference to the movie about a teen from a dysfunctional family. The mother of several children, Green reportedly worked 96 hours of overtime this month. So isn't it kind of a dick move to photograph her while she catches a few hard-earned z's? Green's union thinks so!

Correction Officer Benevolent Association spokesman Michael Skelly tells the Post, "Many correction officers are forced to work 70 to 80 hours of mandatory overtime. Since we don't know the particular circumstances of that particular officer, we are not going to condemn her. She may have been sick. We believe it was highly suspect for the other officer to take a picture and potentially jeopardize her safety." Nevertheless, Green has been placed on modified duty and may face disciplinary action, and the officer who took the photo, Claudel Barrau, is now on modified duty, too.

But Rikers Island—where correction officers were indicted earlier this year for allegedly supervising a prisoner "fight club" that resulted in one inmate's death—is also for lovers. Correction Officer Doreen Baker, 39, may be fired for carrying on an "improper relationship" with a 39-year-old inmate identified only as "Hunter," when she supervised his work detail. Investigators say Hunter called Baker more than 170 times while in jail, and then moved in with her after his release in March 2008. In a recent ruling obtained by the Daily News, a judge recommended that Baker be terminated for fraternizing with a prisoner, which, apparently, is frowned upon. So no napping, no fighting, no loving—can't COs have any fun?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on December 29, 2009 11:01 AM

Comments [rss]

LB

ahhh, nothing like some good ole jail pussy in the morning,.......afternoon,.......maybe a pussy snack for din-din . : ' )

nohateparade

At least good, clean fun was had like using two fingers to make a peace sign instead of using them... well, you know...

just saying

"One source describes her as 'the Precious of Corrections...'"

Really? More like the Barney Fife of Corrections.

NannyState

Stupid inmate. I would have teabagged 'Sleeping Beauty'.

eyekantspel

96 hours of OT in a month = no big deal (except for the waste of taxpayer $). Talk to most professionals in this city, most are easily putting in over 60 hours a week for their salary. What does a guard have to do? Guard. The primary task for a guard? keep your eyes open. This should be a terminable offense.

Mordicai

Man how DARE that guard take a photo. It only shows what is HAPPENING-- totally unfair. The photo makes it look like she's asleep on the job-- a dangerous job! Totally unfair to her.

WTF.

youngpro

ya gotta feel bad for her. not to condone her, but i see her and i see an overworked, probably single-parent mom, trying to make that $ to put her kids through school as a co so they won't end up as her prisoners.

Jen S

Except the OT keeps her away from home. This cycle of poverty punishes the kids (until they do something wrong; then the legal system punishes them).

darkdrseuss

Mandatory overtime I think exists both on nypd and co side, I know the one instance is when they yhave to escort a prisoner to the hosptial, they're stuck with him/her till discharge or if the prisoner is admitted. Thus if it happens towards the end of the shift, they're stuck with them, thus mandatory overtime

Think2wice

Macking, the great ghetto pastime.

chuzzlewit

in every single movie, cartoon, fable, and story i've ever known the jailer is asleep in a chair cocked against the wall with a big ring of keys - so she actually looks like she's doing a pretty good job here. classic style,pretty good "mouth open" form, if someone could verify snoring i'd say she's reppin' a 9!

Aveais Essex

Where the white men at?

JenChungsBaby

Real life should not be Blazing Saddles.

valeriob

The Sheriff is a what?!

Angelheaded Hipster

i get to be captain, though

Angelheaded Hipster

mayor mike, please replace all rikers COs with gothamist commenters ! we're letting all this expertise go to waste!

wingedearth

What level of expertise is required to know not to fall asleep while guarding prisoners?

valeriob

for serious.

Bernie Madoff-Goetz

Affirmative action at work (or not as the case may be.)

marcasm

"We believe it was highly suspect for the other officer to take a picture and potentially jeopardize her safety."

So she didn't jeopardize her own safety by falling asleep ?