Cumberland Sheriff Makes Personnel Changes At Jail

Chief Jailer Dan Ford has been demoted from major to captain and will no longer have a direct link to the jail. In the meantime, officials named Cuyler Windham as interim chief jailer and have started a search for a new chief jailer.

There have been a series of mistaken releases at the jail in the last seven months. In July 2003, jailers confused Michael McNeil with another inmate. In August 2003, jailers were supposed to send Shaun Bordeaux to a state prison, but inadvertenly released him. In December 2003, jailers. mixed up two inmates with the same last name.

In January 2004, an error in paperwork led to an inmate's release. The latest incident happened two weeks ago, when jailers mixed up two brothers.

In addition to Ford's demotion, Cumberland County Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler announced the suspension of three other jailers. Another jailer received a written reprimand.

"The decision has to be made. It's difficult at times, but you have to make a decision and move on and that is what we are certainly looking forward to moving on without any more incidents in the jail," Butler said.

"I think it's a challenge, but I kind of enjoy a challenge," Windham said. "I think we have good people in the jail. It's just a matter of getting organized."