Three Lake County Corrections Officers fired after inmate’s death

The terminations of three Lake County Corrections Officers for their involvement in an inmate’s 2012 death have been upheld.

The terminations of Corrections Officers Rodney Holmes, Robert Schlesser and Lilia Cruz were upheld by an arbitrator Aug. 4, according to a statement from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The demotion of Corrections Sergeant Lance Ware was also upheld.

On Oct. 31, 2011, inmate Eugene Gruber suffered a broken neck while struggling with the four officers as he was arriving at the jail, the sheriff’s office said. He died March 3, 2012.

In addition to being terminated, Holmes and Schlesser were criminally charged with official misconduct, the sheriff’s office said. Holmes was found not guilty following a bench trial, and Schlesser died before his case went to trial.

According to the sheriff’s office a complete audit was conducted and rewrite of all jail policies since the incident. No further details were provided regarding policy changes, but the changes made were accredited by the American Correctional Association and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

“Inmates have the right to be treated fairly and humanely while in custody at the Lake County Jail and I, as your Sheriff, will stand for nothing less,” Sheriff Curran said in the statement.