KAMC Investigates: Whistleblower Faces Harassment After Discussing Problems at Smith Unit
By: Nick Ochsner
Updated: March 19, 2013
A whistle-blower at the center of a KAMC investigation in February says
she was harassed by her supervisors for speaking out about the dangerous
staffing levels at the Smith Unit Prison in Lamesa.
Cheyanna Vogeler spoke with us for a story that aired in February focusing on the amount of overtime prison guards were being forced to work at the unity, at a huge price to taxpayers.
In her first interview, we withheld her name and blacked out her face because Vogeler feared retribution for talking with us.
Despite our efforts, she says, her supervisors retaliated anyways: opening the doors to prisoners' cells while she was locked in a hallway with them and writing her up for numerous, minor infractions.
After nearly a month of harassment, Vogeler submitted two complaints to TDCJ's Human Resources Department.
The HR representative said her claims had no merit and referred the complaint to the Smith Unit's warden, one of the people Vogeler had blown the whistle on.
We contacted TDCJ for comment on Vogeler's complaints being turned over to the very man she had complained about to our cameras, here's their response:
"The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a strong employee grievance and EEO policy in place. The agency encourages employees and supervisors to attempt resolution of a situation by using informal problem-solving techniques before filing a formal grievance. However, when a matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the employee, the employee may seek resolution by submitting a grievance. Grievances are routed to the appropriate responding authority. Employees that believe there has been a EEO violation are encouraged to contact Human Resource Division. EEO violations are not investigated at the unit level.
TDCJ is committed to making sure employees are treated fairly and equitably."
Cheyanna Vogeler spoke with us for a story that aired in February focusing on the amount of overtime prison guards were being forced to work at the unity, at a huge price to taxpayers.
In her first interview, we withheld her name and blacked out her face because Vogeler feared retribution for talking with us.
Despite our efforts, she says, her supervisors retaliated anyways: opening the doors to prisoners' cells while she was locked in a hallway with them and writing her up for numerous, minor infractions.
After nearly a month of harassment, Vogeler submitted two complaints to TDCJ's Human Resources Department.
The HR representative said her claims had no merit and referred the complaint to the Smith Unit's warden, one of the people Vogeler had blown the whistle on.
We contacted TDCJ for comment on Vogeler's complaints being turned over to the very man she had complained about to our cameras, here's their response:
"The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a strong employee grievance and EEO policy in place. The agency encourages employees and supervisors to attempt resolution of a situation by using informal problem-solving techniques before filing a formal grievance. However, when a matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the employee, the employee may seek resolution by submitting a grievance. Grievances are routed to the appropriate responding authority. Employees that believe there has been a EEO violation are encouraged to contact Human Resource Division. EEO violations are not investigated at the unit level.
TDCJ is committed to making sure employees are treated fairly and equitably."
