New Florida Secretary Fires 9 Top Officials; Possible Contract Changes Loom Amid Scandals

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Several high-ranking officials in Florida’s prison system were fired during a personnel shakeup initiated by the agency’s new secretary, who was appointed after the agency’s previous secretary resigned amid a widespread investigation of criminal activity within the system.

Corrections Secretary James McDonough fired Al Solomon, Region 1 director; Brad Carter, Region 2 director; Michael Rathmann, Florida State Penitentiary warden; Kenneth Lammp, Wakulla Correctional Institute warden; Rick Anglin, Washington Correctional Institute warden; Dave Farcas, Cross City correctional institute warden; Dale Hughes, assistant warden Gulf CI; Cornelius Fault, assistant warden Baker CI; and Lamar Griffis, assistant warden, Reception and Medical Center.

McDonough named the following people to fill the vacated positions: Wendel Whitehurst, moved from Union CI warden to Region 1 director; Ruchard Dugger, former corrections secretary, will serve as Region 2 director; Randall Bryant moved from Tomoka CI warden to Florida State Prison warden; Ronnie Harris moved from Martin CI warden to Washington CI warden; and David McCallum moved from Hamilton CI assistant warden to Cross City CI warden.

“These dedicated employees have demonstrated their professionalism through a guiding philosophy of ethical duty and commitment to the State of Florida, their fellow employees and the people in their care,” McDonough says.

The day before the personnel changes, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement released a report that stated McDonough’s predecessor, James Crosby, tried to impede an investigation of the prison system. Crosby was forced to resign in February by Gov. Jed Bush after he became a subject of the investigation.

Investigators have also alleged that a prison-based steroid ring was established among department personnel. A former correctional officer was sentenced to two and one-half years in prison for his role in the alleged ring. Five other correctional officers also face steroid-related charges.

Officials have also investigated allegations that members of a prison softball team received payment equal to a full workday for practicing and a member of the team was hired specifically to play softball.

In addition to the personnel changes, McDonough has raised concern over two health care contracts signed while the previous secretary was in office and the mechanism that allowed the contracts to take affect.

The two contracts, worth a combined $84 million, went to TYA Pharmaceuticals of Tallahassee. One contract was for the repackaging of medications for inmates, the other to split tablets. The larger of the two, for $72 million, was awarded in 1998, while the smaller $12 million contract was awarded last year.

Neither went through a bidding process, a move that was cleared by prison system lawyers who cited an exemption from competitive bidding for health care services in Florida.

Now, the decision not to seek bids is under examination, as are other actions, according to the auditor general’s testimony before state legislators.

Calling it a “poorly managed contract,” McDonough is now considering throwing out the contracts and bringing the work in-house. Legislators previously ordered the pill-splitting contract to be put out for competitive bids, and TYA was the only company to submit a bid at that time.