First Class Correctional Officer
Timothy David Burt
Parklea Prison
The New South Wales Department of
Corrective Services has never had a good reputation in supporting junior
officers. Head office, (commonly
referred to as “Coward’s Castle”), in their wisdom, have developed a standing
where they sacrifice junior officers in support of officers higher up the food
chain.
The following extract is an example of
making junior officers a sacrificial lamb.
At about 10.30 hours or shortly thereafter, two prisoners escaped
over the wall in the activities/oval of the prison. They were Silva and McMillan and one prisoner
failed the fitness test as he was unable to pull himself over the formidable
wall of the oval in Parklea Prison, his name was Cooper. As can only be expected, the “suits” within
the Department had to head hunt someone to blame at the lowest level possible
in order to protect their mates a little higher up the promotional ladder.
Mr B Kilcourse of the State Investigative and Security Group,
whatever that may be, a senior investigator, was appointed to the task of
investigating the circumstances surrounding the escape. He took a statement
from Mr Sean Burke, a project manager from Sielox Security Systems who
installed and maintained the electronic security and CCTV system. He also took
records of interviews from Senior Correctional Officer James Linos and 1st
Class Correctional Officer Timothy Burt.
On the 10th January 2002 Mr Kilcourse presented his
final report to Mr John Klok, Acting Senior Assistant Commissioner for his
perusal and consideration. I knew Mr
Klok from my days working at Long Bay.
If my memory serves me correctly he was a displaced officer from Grafton
following the closure of the intractable section and the down grading of HM
Gaol Grafton. He was a massive man and he spent sometime in the Special
Operations Division SOD. It’s fair to say he was a very good and reliable prison
officer. However I would have thought he
may be a little out of his depth as Acting Senior Assistant Commissioner. My understanding is Mr Kilcourse in his
report recommended disciplinary action to be considered against SCO Linos only.
On the 20th January 2002 Mr Klok appointed Deputy
Superintendent Robert “Bob” Maher to conduct a preliminary inquiry into alleged
breaches of discipline by SCO James Linos and this time included First Class CO
Timothy Burt. Sometime in late February
2002, Mr Maher submitted his report and findings to Mr Klok for his further
perusal and consideration. Mr Maher
recommended that SCO Linos and First Class CO Burt be dealt with for a breach
of discipline.
On the 28th February 2002 Mr Klok signed a “letter of
charge” against both these fine and well respected officers. By the 2nd
April 2002 both officers had submitted written responses to the alleged charges
and both denied being negligent. On the same date Mr Burt at least, also made
oral representation to Mr Klok, all to no avail.
Mr Klok on the 24th April 2002 found the charges proven
and asked both offices to make submissions or representations as to appropriate
punishment. A written submission was made on behalf of both officers on the 22nd
May 2002 by Mr John Scullion of the NSW Public Service Association. On the 13th
June 2002 Mr Klok determined that the punishment would be a fine of $1500 for
SCO James Linos and a fine of $1000 for 1st Class CO Timothy Burt.
What happened following the above incident
in the case of Mr. Burt, is a complete disgrace on the part of the Department
of Corrective Services. To see how this
case turned into a complete fiasco in order to save the Superintendent and the
Deputy Superintendent of Parklea Prison, please read my book, “Australia’s Best
Prison Stories”, available through Amazon or through this website.
This I believe.
Peter T. Egge
