The warden of the James Vaughn Correctional Institution has been placed on paid leave.
Department of Corrections spokesperson Jamye Gravell, issued the following:
“Warden Pierce has been placed on administrative leave with pay. Deputy Warden Parker is Acting Warden until further notice. We are unable to share additional details as personnel records are private.”
Radio 105.9 identified the warden as David Pierce and the assistant warden as Phil Parker.
This follows a hostage incident at the prison near Smyrna that claimed the life of 16-year correctional officer Steven Floyd. Floyd is believed to have been the first corrections officer to die in a violent incident in the corrections system in recent times.
State Police had been tight-lipped on the investigation. However, inmates, families of inmates and the union representing corrections officers have been trading accusations about conditions in the prison that include a “hit list” of corrections officers, staffing shortages mistreatment of prisoners, mixing in hardened criminals with non-violent offenders and not heeding warnings about conditions in the institution.
The institution is in an isolated area on the edge of New Castle County. It is the home of Delaware’s death row.
The state Supreme Court voided the state’s capital punishment statute, leaving it up to legislators to pass a measure that would meet constitutional muster.
Gov. John Carney has ordered an independent investigation of the incident after the criminal probe is completed. Inmate advocates have called for a federal investigation.
