The Jason Rantz ShowDennis Folk King County Corrections Guild on coronavirus
Dennis Folk (President of the King County Corrections Guild) on coronavirus precautions in jails
Welcome back to the Jason Rancho on AM 7 70 k t th and 94.5 FM of the Greater East Side. There's some alarm. Bells are ringing for the King. County Corrections Guild is one of their members tested positive for the Corona virus. They say if the virus gets into the jails, it could be catastrophic. Dennis Folk is the president of the King County Corrections Guild, and he joins me Now, Dennis, welcome to the show.
Yeah, thank you very much.
So take us through the situation as it is right now with this individual who tested positive.
Well,
we got noticed earlier this week that he had tested positive. He had been off for a couple days, so he's at home in quarantine, and so far, he's just the 1st 1 that were where
is there concern that this individual had contact with others and might have exposed them?
There is, you know, working into jail. You know, we work in direct contact. We don't have the ability to do the social distancing. So, um, you know, with the inmates and our co workers, you know, we have to work in a relatively close environment.
What can you tell us then? About this particular situation? Are you able to tell us when where it happened or what capacity?
I don't know it. I mean, my assumption would be that that he got it at work. I mean, we have a pretty vulnerable population, and we have people coming in all the time. So, uh, you know, it's concerning to us
since the Corona virus crisis started and we got these declarations coming from the state. How has life changed for employees at the King County Corrections?
Well, currently, when we come to work there screening us, um,
for temperatures and see if we have any Kobe symptoms,
If we do, then the shift commander as the ability to send us home
and we're being directed to, ah, seek a medical advice. At that point, you contact your primary care provider and work on trying to get tested.
Are they covering any of the costs?
Right now, the insurance companies that that King County contracts with for healthcare providers, we think all King character thinks the regents and then Kaiser, both of those companies have waived all testing fees.
I checked those out, the other day on their websites.
Nice. So they're stepping up, making sure that people are at least getting thio get tested so they can be safe. What's happening at the actual jails? Are visitors still allowed? Is there an increase in cleaning?
Go. There is the other is, um
most public visit needs have been canceled. My understanding that online, we do a video chatting with, you know, available to service. And the county's increased that where they can have each of making a four day in the county picking up the cost of that.
Uh
and then we are doing screening if somebody comes in and I worked the intake area most most of the time. If somebody comes in with, you know, the corner vier symptoms, we isolate them. And then after that, that sells been utilized. We got a special solution that spreads on the cell to clean it, and we keep the sell out of service until we fought the protocols under on this this cleaning solution, I think it's gonna sit in there for 15 minutes and
then
that that it's wiped down and then we leave it out of service for a little bit of time after that to make sure
his focus. The president of the King County Corrections. Guilt. We're talking about the Corona virus crisis and its impact on the jail system. If there is a outbreak, if there's an outbreak amongst the prison population, what does that mean?
Well,
you know, with inmates living so close proximity of each other,
it's gonna it's gonna spread fast. You know, it's our belief, and I've been following news stories around the country and
prisons and jails. Yves, federal level to the local level, are extremely concerned by this. Um, Kim got. He has taken some steps in our total population. You know, the 60 older group, they've isolated those people down there, J c, keeping them separate from the general population. And then we're taking steps. If they come in and they do show any any symptoms were isolating those people as well to try to
minimize this as much as they can.
But how catastrophic would this actually be? So let's just say, just from a prison population perspective, I mean, you're dealing with some prisoners who obviously are in a at risk demographic, whether it's pre existing health condition or their age. How quickly do you think it would spread? And what would it actually mean to the population?
Well, you have to look at. But you know, the jails are bigger. Our populations that's round about 1800 to 2000 day between our two jails. You know, if that spread you're looking at 18 to 2000 people have it in, you know, and how fast that could spread and then tryingto treat that. And then you throw the staff into the mix.
You know, we're our unit 550 officers and sergeants. So add that to the numbers and then pick it back home to their families. You know, I've got members right now that have you know, their in laws or parents stained with them better that are part of this final population that it concerned about. If I come home and have this virus and my mom are dad's there,
they've got
heart conditions, you know, or any other type stuff that could be spread to them. So
But it is
at this point, is it more likely that if an outbreak were to occur, it's a result oven employees bringing it into the jail. Given the mitigation circumstances that you guys we're dealing with now,
No. I think it would be
somebody from the public coming in. You know, some of that that's been arrested,
and
then they come in. You know, we have officers that's conduct pat searches, handle their property, things like that. And that could easily be, you know, Transmitted.
So then what's being done at that point? So let's say someone gets arrested in their booked in jail. What? What has changed to ensure that they don't have the Corona virus?
We're asking the questions. You know, if you have any flu like symptoms, air been overseas or been in contact with somebody that hasn't, um we're taking temperatures, right? It rated credit, the booking. If they have any of those concerns, a registered nurse comes up, screens them further,
and if they believe that the person does, you know, have the Corona virus or symptoms of it, there declined a number that medically
so they can't be booked and then sending them to a
hospital to be checked further before we would accept him. But there are some that you know, they just have flu symptoms,
but
not a temperature, and it hasn't got to that point. Onda concert is you see in the news that people
may not even show symptoms and then they're coming in. And then while they're in custody, you know, now the symptoms air started to start to come forward.
We're chatting with the president of the King County Corrections Gil Dennis folk about the impact that Corona virus is having at this point on our corrections facilities. What would you like to see happen at this point? To
assuage the concerns of the folks you represent?
You know, we were struggling to get a lot of the lot of the safety gear, And I think that you see in the news stories,
even
hospitals and
other people are, you know, having a hard time getting the mass, the rubber gloves. I talked to our supply officer that does all the order in this morning. And he said all their vendors are are currently out, is getting whatever he can for most any service possible.
So, you know, without the masks and without the gloves, it's frustrating. I know they're taking every step they can to try to get it, but that's that's a national problem there, So
I think that would be the first thing. The most important thing to us is to have the proper safety equipment people.
We've seen some reports not just here in Washington, but across the country. Essentially, police departments or sheriff's office is saying they're no longer going to book certain types of suspects. Is that something that you support?
Yes, I do. Um, I talked to our R
admin staff, our you know, our director, deputy director. And they said, Everything's on the table. We've already started to restrict some bookings, like people that have Department of Corrections holds. We're not accepting those at that point, but as Faras,
you know a lot of Jill's air going to mandatory bookings. Only we're the only book ponies
it, like domestic violence Charges are for a D Y
way.
What's your general level of concern, though, that that could lead to lawlessness? Ironically, I'm talking about this very topic on Tucker Carlson Show tonight on Fox News, where there's some significant concern, and I think it's valid concern from the public that says, Isn't this gonna make the situation worse? We're dealing with prolific offenders who right now, don't really think that there's a lot to, uh, to the conduct that they're engaged in. Might this encourage them?
Well, I think it possibly could mean the sad reality is, you know, our jails a revolving door for a lot of people. And if they realize that, Hey, I'm not going to be arrested on my DLC Warren,
you know they're out doing what they need to do, and they there's no consequences for that.
So, yeah, get some legitimate concerns better police officers are facing.
So it, which is more important, do you think
being arrested or
being arrested versus the safety of the jail system? It's It's It's a It's an admittedly tricky position. I think a lot of people are gonna find themselves in because I want what's best for your men and women who are serving under you. I I respect the hell out of Eddie, member of law enforcement. But I also understand the concerns of the people who say, You know what? You're breaking the law right now at the worst possible time to be breaking the law. You need to be punished.
Yeah, no, I agree. You know, it's it's a balancing game, you know, And it's a difficult situation and, uh
and you know, our jobs to keep the community safe as well. And those people that come to us, you know, and that are in our custody. And then we gotta provide. Make sure they're safe in there and that, you know, they face the consequences for the decisions they make, you know, through the court systems. And if their courts are released in people, or if police departments are being told not to arrest people. Yeah, that that's that's good turning to us
or wish you guys the best of luck. We want you guys to say safe as humanly possible. We appreciate the time you've given us. Dennis Folk is the president of the King County Corrections Gil, Thank you so much for seven. By really appreciate it.
Absolutely. You're listening to the Jason Rancho. We'll be back with more just a moment. But first, let's get you home the right way. With right way traffic
