Corrections officers at a county jail that is under federal investigation for its lack of mental health training pointed fingers toward the administration and called for the warden to be removed.

They're also asking for an independent investigation into the Cumberland County Jail's labor practices.

Union members from across the state packed the meeting room and overflow section of the Cumberland County Administration Building to attend the county freeholder meeting Tuesday night.

"We are here to publicly inform the freeholders that there are some labor issues going on that are plaguing the Cumberland County Jail," said state PBA first vice president Peter Andreyev. "Members have tried to address some training and labor issues with the administration, and quite frankly, some of those members have just been targeted in retaliation with disciplinary actions and termination."

The freeholder meeting comes on the heels in which the Department of Justice spent multiple days at the facility, reviewing the practices of the jail to see if it provides adequate care for inmates with mental health issues. At least six inmates have committed suicide in the jail in the past three years.

One by one, corrections officer union leaders from around the state came and voiced their support for PBA 231, the Cumberland County Corrections officer union, claiming the jail administration is not honoring the negotiated contract and using unfair labor practices.

They claim the administration is targeting the union leadership, filing grievances against its senior members and trying to push them out of jobs. Additionally, a process for bidding on their schedule based on seniority, experience, and education is being bypassed, and they claim junior officers are receiving better shifts and placement on search teams before senior officers.

PBA Local 231 president Victor Bermudez was suspended without pay for allegedly appearing in a political ad for then-Paterson mayoral candidate Alex Mendez while on company time. The PBA's lawyer, Stuart Alterman, denies the allegations of impropriety and cites Bermudez's suspension as one of the instances in which leadership is being targeted.

"We as a Freeholder board have to digest all of the information that was there," Cumberland County Freeholder Director Joe Derella said. "We also get updates to some of those concerns. At this point, we need to digest what was said, and we will go from there."

After the meeting, Alterman said Warden Richard Smith should be removed from his position.

"I am asking this freeholder board to understand that they hired someone who doesn't belong in the position and I am asking this freeholder board to seriously look at it," Alterman said. "I understand due process and I am not trying to take Richard Smith's due process away. So hire an independent individual to investigate what's going on and come up with a solution. And yes, we are asking for his removal."

When asked by NJ Advance Media about the union wanting an independent investigation into the jail, Smith said he would not be afraid of one occurring.



"They can call for any type of investigation they can," Smith said. "I had the health department here, I've had the state civil service commission here, and I have had the Department of Justice here. You know what, we are still here, and we are still open. Our trajectory is going to remain the same."



Smith touted the fact there had not been a suicide in the jail for 18 months.

During the meeting, the freeholders revealed designs for the new Cumberland County Jail that is scheduled to open in August 2020.

The two-phase project will bring a new 100,000 square foot county jail that will house 398 inmates. The county will also construct a new holding facility next to the site of the current Cumberland County Courthouse. The old jail will eventually be demolished.

However, at least one person questioned whether showing the designs could be a public safety concern.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us.

nj.com/tips