It’s an example of a policy change that’s been implemented “but not written down anywhere," Fontaine said.

Casper said the jailers have been instructed not to wear their badges because they could be used as a weapon by inmates. Similarly, they shouldn’t carry pens, even though the pod, or common area, is “full of pencils.”

“What’s the difference between a pen and a pencil?” he wondered.

“We were also told to wear our street clothes to work and change there because we didn’t want to be considered a police force,” Casper said. “But there’s no locker room, no place for us to change.”

Bauer wasn’t at Friday’s meeting. He said Tuesday he was caught by surprise by some of the complaints.

“Had they come to me and made known to everyone about some what I consider minor issues, I would have worked with them or talked to them about it,” he said. “I didn’t want them wearing a badge inside a jail for their own safety. My concern was an inmate getting that badge and using it as a weapon. I have a sewn-on badge underneath my shirt for that very reason.”