SUNBURY - One day after being suspended with pay, a union correctional officer previously named as a defendant in two lawsuits filed against the county has been fired for allegedly wrestling with a male prisoner three weeks ago and providing him with Tylenol after he was injured in the scuffle.
Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi said William Reber, 23, of Watsontown, was terminated at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday by Warden Roy Johnson for conduct that violates prison policy.
According to Clausi, Reber admitted to wrestling with an inmate three weeks ago, causing the victim to fall and injure his neck. Clausi said Reber provided the inmate with Tylenol to sooth the pain associated with his neck injury.
Reber, who is named as a defendant in two recent lawsuits filed against eight current or former prison personnel relating to alleged beatings suffered by two inmates, had worked at the prison for approximately two years, including the past six months as a full-time employee.
He was suspended with pay Wednesday afternoon by the county prison board pending the completion of a fact-finding probe conducted by prison officials.
Reber is a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union.
A call made to the residence of William C. Reber II in Watsontown seeking comment about the firing was answered by a man identifying himself as Reber's father, who spoke for his son in declaring he wouldn't want to comment.
Swift action needed
"He was a bad apple in the prison," commented Clausi. "The guy should have been fired before. He's involved in two lawsuits. We must get rid of the bad apples to protect the taxpayers and we can't wait to take action at prison board meetings. We gave the power to the warden three years ago to fire people and that's how these things must be handled."
Commissioner Stephen Bridy, chairman of the prison board, also confirmed Reber's firing and agreed with Clausi that swift and severe action needs to be taken against guards who abuse inmates to protect the county against lawsuits.
"We couldn't let this correctional officer continue to work at the prison based on what we were told at Wednesday's executive session and from his own admission," Bridy said. "You can't reward bad behavior."
The commissioner said Reber was scheduled to work at 2 p.m. Wednesday, but was informed by Operations Commander Brian Wheary that he was going to be suspended with pay after an emergency executive session of the prison board concluded at about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday. Wheary had recommended to the prison board to take disciplinary action against Reber during the executive session.
Bridy said, "This guard's alleged actions reflect poorly on the institution. There's a few bad apples, but the remainder of the staff are good people. They are working hard and doing their jobs properly and something like this isn't fair to them."
He explained that the prison board policy regarding firings is "vague" as to who the board can fire. He said policy allows the prison board to fire administrative personnel such as the warden and other supervisors, but said the language isn't clear when it comes to firing line officers and other staff.
Bridy said Johnson has had the authority to fire, hire and suspend personnel since he became warden. But last month, he said a few prison board members voiced concern over who should be responsible for suspending, firing or hiring personnel.
"Judge (Robert) Sacavage, Commissioner (Richard) Shoch and District Attorney (Tony) Rosini expressed concerns about violating the Sunshine Act involving hirings, firings and suspensions," Bridy said. "So we decided to have the prison board take responsibility for hiring, firing or suspending employees. But that would mean waiting to take action at a meeting, while the employee in question would still be working and possibly causing more problems while being paid by the county."
"Brian (Wheary) told us yesterday (Wednesday) that we couldn't let Mr. Reber back in the prison or someone was going to get hurt," the commissioner said. "That's why the warden needs authority to fire, hire and suspend employees."
Johnson was not working Wednesday and did not attend the executive session when the decision to suspend Reber was made.