Senator criticizes governor's DOC personnel action

OLYMPIA — Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said Gov. Jay Inslee’s actions taken Monday do not focus enough on the role of the former secretary in problems within the Department of Corrections.

“It’s easier to go after the little guys, which they’ve done,” said Padden. “But I really think it should’ve focused a little more on Bernie Warner, and then you ask, who’s watching Bernie Warner?”

Bernie Warner was DOC secretary during the period of time the department had a computer sentencing error that resulted in the early release of more than 3,000 inmates.

According to a report by two investigators hired by the governor, Warner left the department before he had any knowledge of the error.

Inslee said if the error had become more widely known at the time, Warner would have either resigned or been fired.

“I think it really took the Senate’s investigation to bring that whole issue to the forefront,” said Padden about placing blame on Warner. He thinks there should have been more oversight on Warner’s management of the department.

Padden said there should be additional performance audits on all agencies.

Inslee recently announced a series of disciplinary actions and resignations among current and former Department of Corrections (DOC) employees.

Inslee said the agency is working to rebuild trust and to implement changes in the department.

“Part of that effort is making management changes and holding the appropriate people accountable for their role in the longstanding programming error,” said Inslee.

The actions come in response to a report, released Feb. 25 by two former federal prosecutors, on their investigation into the repeated delays by the DOC to fix the sentencing error.

Former DOC Chief Information Officer Doug Hoffer has resigned from the state’s central IT services agency. DOC Risk Manager Kathy Gastreich was demoted to another position in the department. Former IT Business Manager David Dunnington was also demoted to another position at the DOC.

Inslee named Dick Morgan as acting DOC secretary. Morgan retired from his position as director of prisons in 2010, after more than 30 years at the DOC.

“Dick has had a long and well-respected career at DOC,” Inslee said.

Inslee said someone with experience in the current system is needed to move forward on the systemic changes that he called for as a result of the investigation.

Padden does not agree with the governor about needing a secretary with experience with the system.

“I would have preferred that he maybe brought somebody new in…that wasn’t part of this system and this culture that’s been there,” said Padden about the governor’s appointment.

Morgan will replace Dan Pacholke, whose retirement is effective Thursday. The investigators reported Pacholke had no knowledge of the programming error.