South Dakota Department of Corrections faces racial harassment, discrimination federal lawsuit

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota Information Now) -A former Correctional officer on the Mike Durfee Jail in Springfield hopes that others received’t need to face what he believes to be racial harassment and discrimination throughout the division of corrections. He’s filed this lawsuit with the hope of making change.

Final April, our I-Group introduced you the story of Dallas Tronvold, recounting how his co-workers handled him on the jail.

“I used to be known as a prairie ***** by a supervisor,” stated Tronvold. “A feminine officer said, nicely, when do you guys get your Indian cash?”

He says different employees stored him in opposition to his will between two jail gates.

“I requested the sergeant why the gate was shut, and he said to me, ‘you ain’t going wherever,” stated Tronvold.

A report was filed with the native Sheriff’s division, which referred the grievance to the DOC. he additionally e-mailed Governor Noem’s workplace. There was no response.

Nonetheless, the US Equal Employment Alternative Fee did hear his issues, investigated, and despatched Tronvold a right-to-sue letter.

Alongside along with his lawyer R. Shawn Tornow, Tronvold reveals us the paperwork filed in federal courtroom, together with phrases from a former supervisor concerning the Tronvold household, saying: “Shoot them. Pour sugar an the fuel tank.”

Tronvold has phrases of warning for these contemplating working for the DOC.

“I simply don’t advocate it to anyone. Simply as a result of racism and discrimination, as a result of it’s on the market,” stated Tronvold.

Tornow desires to help Tronvold in bringing the issues to mild.

“It’s a horrible ordeal that he went by way of and needed to undergo by way of and making an attempt to do the correct factor and calling it to folks’s consideration, and actually getting nowhere apart from to be retaliated in opposition to, it’s one thing that must be addressed,” stated Tornow.

We reached out to the South Dakota Division of Corrections, Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko, and a consultant of Governor Noem’s workplace and have but to obtain a response.

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