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Satanic Badges II
Satanic Badges II
The Continuing Saga Of Human Sacrifice
Written By:
Bradley D. Chapline
Page One
     The word had spread quickly of Warden Townsend's death.  A massive power struggle was forming amongst staff in the prison on what had come to be known as the "Black Coalition" against the "Red Satanic Men".  The state prisons director was now under enormous political pressure to select the next warden of the Stateline Correctional Center to be a black man.  The caucasians were furious.  All the different white factions were now banding together to be one.  This showdown was akin to the Klu Klux Klan versus The Black Panthers.
vs
The Klu Klux Klan
The Black Panthers
     The prison was in almost total chaos.  There was a racial division not only amongst the inmates but amongst the officers as well.  The officers were clearly showing their prejudice in matters of discipline and daily operations.  Finally, the announcement was made.   Howard Sherman had been selected by the state prison's chief.  I was relieved and overjoyed.  Mr. Sherman had been the lead case worker for unit six where Sgt. Buelton had banished me too.   A very soft spoken, intelligent, well educated black man Mr. Sherman was definitely a fantastic selection as warden.  I figured he was the only man that could repair and mend a shattered corrupt system.  Even the most racist caucasian officers thought well of Mr. Sherman.      
     Amazingly, for the next several years racial tensions subsided tremendously.  Warden Sherman had accomplished the impossible!  He was loved and respected by everyone.  I had never met a man in my life who was so extremely fair and tolerant to everyone.  One night Officer Tomanski was standing an armed perimeter post.  An inmate was having a heart attack and the "Flight for Life" medical emergency helicopter had been dispatched to our institution.  All posts had been notified by two way radio.  It was not an uncommon event for "Flight for Life" to be landing their medical chopper in the middle of our prison yard.  I hear the sounds of the chopper nearing.  As I look up in to the star lit sky I clearly see the medical emergency chopper preparing to land.  I went in the sergeant's office to make notification.  Suddenly, I hear a burst of rifle fire coming from Tomanski's tower.  "Jesus Christ", I scream, "That fucking idiot is firing at "Flight for Life"!!!  Sgt. Buelton attempts to jump up from his desk and spills his array of fating foods all over his extremely large uniform.  "Crossley, Crossley, get up there and stop that fucking moron from firing on that chopper"!!!   As I got outside and running towards Tomanski's tower I see "Flight for Life" abort their landing on the yard and turn tail quickly flying away from the institution.  Of course, without doubt, "Flight for Life" sternly denied our requests to return to the prison.  The inmate who was having the heart attack died shortly thereafter.  Everyone was stunned when Warden Sherman gave Officer Tomanski only 30 days suspension without pay.    
     Several months later Officer Jason Williams was working the armed post of the central yard tower.  It was common knowledge that Officer Williams was an alcoholic and came to work daily with a hangover and the smell of liquor emiting from his body.  Sgt. Buelton had no idea that Officer Williams had now graduated to bringing liquor in his lunch pale and staying wasted on his gun post.  The state health inspector was on the prison yard on this extremely hot Friday afternoon.  While escorting this inspector to the culinary I hear this slurred yelling, "Hey muther fucker, who in the goddamned hell are you punk"?  I look back and I see Officer Williams hanging out of the central tower window with a long range rifle in his hands.  I thought, "Oh my God, that asshole is drunk"!!!  Williams continues to yell.  I then see Officer Williams fall out of the tower window and fall four stories down to the prison yard.  Williams hits the ground and is splattered like a pancake.  The loaded rifle bounces about ten feet away from Williams.  A large group of inmates run towards Williams and take possession of this loaded long range rifle.  I stand frozen, just staring at the inmates from a distance.  I then see a hispanic gang leader and his "home boys" now appraoching me with this weapon.  I remain frozen.  I then sense this strange smell.  It was the inspector.  He had urinated his pants!!!  The gang members came within several feet of me and said, "Officer Crossley, I think maybe you should get this weapon off the yard before someone gets hurt".  As I laughed, the inmate handed the weapon to me.  Inmate Mario Sanchez walked with me off the main prison yard ensuring no other inmates would attempt to take away possession of this rifle from me.  Again stunned, Warden Sherman saved Officer Williams career and ordered him in to a substance abuse program.  
     Over a period of years it became increasingly apparent that management of the Stateline Correctional Center was becoming predominately Afro-American.  Now, even in the officer ranks the ratio was 65% black officers, 30% white officers, 4% hispanic officers and only 1% of the officers were of asian ancestry.  This did not set well with the caucausians.  
     The "Black Coalition" had now gained absolute power of this prison and they were no longer hiding it.  They had now become just as corrupt as the old "Satanic Red Men" regime.  Warden Sherman had now hired as the custody boss Captain Reginald Coleman.  He was from the Georgia prison system as were all of the other blacks Warden Sherman hired in his management ranks.  It was discovered that prior to Warden Sherman coming to work for the Stateline Correctional Center that he was a terminated caseworker from the Georgia prison system.  "Red flags" were raised within the caucasian ranks.
     I attempted all I could do to stay neutral.  My partner was a middle aged black man named Frank Buford.  We worked well together and I trusted him.  But, on a Saturday summer night we were out having drinks and partying.  I had often wondered where Frank got the money to support his lifestyle that was clearly above what he earned as an officer at the prison.  Frank then told me in a quite intoxicated manner, "Cross, I'm pissed at Captain Coleman, I told him the other day I wanted more of the cut". I  said, "What do you mean more of the cut".  Frank said, "Cross, wake up man".    

 

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