'Goon squad' officer disciplined

1.00pm

A senior prison manager who was a key figure in the renegade officers' group known as the "Goon Squad" has been disciplined for allegedly berating and threatening a staff member.

A complaint against Paul Rushton has been upheld by the Corrections Department following an employment investigation. The Canterbury Prisons' site manager has kept his job.

Mr Rushton was among managers discussing workplace issues at a meeting with union members from the Corrections Association (Canz) last August when the flare-up occurred.

A union delegate officer raised concerns about staffing resources for court escorts. Mr Rushton allegedly reacted by swearing at the officer before inviting him outside to sort the matter out.

Appropriate action was taken against Mr Rushton after the complaint was sustained, said the department, refusing to say what it was.

"The detail of any disciplinary action is a confidential matter between the department and Mr Rushton, who continues to be employed by the department," Scott Gwynne, the Public Prisons Service's human resources and training manager, said.

Corrections' code of conduct describes "threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour to any person in the workplace" as serious misconduct.

It states an employee who commits a serious misconduct may be liable for a severe penalty, including dismissal without further warning.

Corrections would not talk about the nature of the complaint, nor clarify whether the breach amounted to misconduct or serious misconduct.

Canz national organiser Brian Davies said the complaint fitted squarely into the serious misconduct category.

"Canz is really pleased that this didn't result in dismissal and we hope that this sets a clear precedent for all prison officers who find themselves in similar circumstances," he said.

Mr Rushton approved some operations of the now defunct Goon Squad, which is the subject of a State Services Commission inquiry.

The controversial team was disbanded in June 2000 amid complaints that it bullied inmates and unfairly disciplined its officers.

Mr Rushton is also a member of a regional professional ethics group, part of a national push to improve prison culture.

Community Probation Service's southern regional manager, Warwick Duell, initially investigated the complaint.

It was then referred to Auckland regional manager Brendon Moynihan for full investigation.

Witnesses interviewed after the stormy meeting included South Island prisons regional manager Paul Monk.

A prison officer, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said it was likely staff would never find out how Mr Rushton was disciplined.

"If I did what he did I'd be down the road. If it was an officer disciplined then we would find out what happened to them," he said.

"But if it's management, it's hush, hush."

- NZPA