Security officers at an Atlanta jail walked out due to unpaid wages, raising serious safety concerns.
At a Glance
- Security officers vacated their posts at an Atlanta jail due to unpaid wages.
- Fulton County Sheriff’s Office owes over $1 million to Strategic Security Corp.
- Contract ended abruptly, creating immediate safety issues at the jail.
- Strategic Security continued services despite non-payment out of moral obligation.
Unpaid Wages and Contract Breach
Security officers contracted through Strategic Security Corp. left their positions at an Atlanta jail due to unpaid wages. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office owes over $1 million to the security contractor, creating a breach in the contract and exacerbating the jail’s operational issues.
Over 17 security officers exited their posts during the walkout, with a total of 74 contractors covering three different shifts. Strategic Security Corp. CEO Joe Sordi stated that the sheriff’s office has never fully paid any billing cycle since the contract began in July 2023. Although some payments were made, the current invoice remains unpaid for over 90 days.
How the actual fuck y'all?
Rice Street owes nearly $1 million in unpaid wages to these security guards. How has this even happened? https://t.co/8l8XDWNLYe— Willow (@__Granuaile__) August 30, 2024
Financial Mismanagement Exposed
The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office is facing serious financial difficulties. According to reports, the office does not have the money to settle its debts, a situation Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts criticized as poor budget management. Additionally, the sheriff’s office overspent its budget by over $1 million, leading to a significant budget crisis.
Due to non-payment since February, the sheriff’s office defaulted on its obligations, but Strategic Security continued its services out of a moral obligation to maintain safety. “A significant budget crisis” sums up the current state of affairs involving the Sheriff’s Office and contractual fiscal responsibility.
How the actual fuck y'all?
Rice Street owes nearly $1 million in unpaid wages to these security guards. How has this even happened? https://t.co/8l8XDWNLYe— Willow (@__Granuaile__) August 30, 2024
Attempt to Mitigate Crisis and Consequences
In retaliation to the walkout, nearly 50 contract security officers were offered employment by the sheriff’s office. However, the office still faces substantial scrutiny from both the public and governing bodies. The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the conditions in the jail owing to previous instances of violence, poor conditions, and the high-profile case of Lashawn Thompson’s death in 2022.
Sheriff Pat Labat has proposed building a new $1.7 billion jail, but county commissioners instead voted for a $300 million renovation project. Following consistent financial mismanagement, including a 66% increase in funding since 2019, the ongoing issue represents a significant budget crisis.
For further reading on the financial struggles of officers nationwide, Wisconsin corrections officers sued the state for unpaid wages due to a 2012 policy, and the class-action aims to secure back pay for over 3,000 current and former officers.
