A Department of Corrections officer admitted he used excessive force on inmates while on duty.

KUAM confirmed the officer, who we are not naming for now, revealed in 2015 he along with a fellow officer forced two inmates to fight each other in the prison yard for their entertainment. 

The officer told staff then that the injured inmate quote “fell.”

Around that same time frame, the officer brought another inmate out to the yard after being called out to fight before punching the inmate and causing him to fall to the ground. The incident was never reported to higher ups and the inmate was not taken to the prison infirmary for treatment.

Then in 2022, that same officer admitted he restrained an inmate for not being compliant, punching the prisoner at least a dozen times resulting in the inmate needing medical treatment. 

The incident at the time was not reported to supervisors.

The officer only recently investigated by DepCor Internal Affairs got a slap on the wrist with a letter of reprimand for endangering the life of prisoners.

DepCor Director Fred Bordallo was unable to speak to the specifics of the case. 

KUAM asked, “Are inmates being treated like animals? Are officers attacking or assaulting who they are supposed to be keeping watch of and guard them?”

Bordallo responded, “The officers since I've come on board have been very professional and they have to uphold their code of ethics. They're supposed to be here to safeguard the inmates, not hurt or harm them in any way or violate the law.” 

Separately, one officer was given a verbal warning while another a brief suspension after both tested positive for using illicit drugs.

Bordallo said his staff are working with the Attorney General’s office before he serves adverse action.

The director also questioned how KUAM obtained the details of those investigations.  

“My assumption is that someone in the department got a hold of internal affairs documents or personnel documents that they weren’t supposed to have and provided it to you, the media for the public,” said Bordallo. 

KUAM questioned if the greater concern was that officers signed on swearing to do their duty in a drug free workplace rather than this information getting out.

“Of course, all the officers know, this has happened since safe harbor was taken away…We are committed to doing random drug testing by our department to detect those that are under the influence of not only illegal drugs but even legal drugs,” said Bordallo. 

The investigations came to light as DepCor officers share concern that the so-called bad apples in the department are going unpunished.

Bordallo added, “If any of our employees feel there is any kind of corruption going on and they want whistleblower protection they are welcome to do that.”