DOC Fires Seven Columbia Correctional Staffers Over April Escape

(Portage) The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has terminated seven staffers for the April escape at Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI) in Portage. In addition, one staff member was suspended for five days and one was cleared. Four workers resigned during the course of the investigation. Six of the eight employees disciplined have the right to appeal the decision in their respective cases through the State of Wisconsin’s grievance process and to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission. Two who were terminated were still in their probationary period and are not eligible to appeal. Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr called it a “tough decisions.” Two inmates escaped from the prison in April. They were taken into custody the next day without incident in Rockford, Illinois after a citizen recognized them from wanted pictures and called police.