Volusia County corrections director appeals county’s decision to terminate him

Mike Springer,Sarah Wilson
·2 min read

Volusia County leaders sent a notice last week to terminate the county’s corrections director after allegations of misconduct.

The county said there were allegations that under Director Mark Flowers inmates were sent to a special unit to be disciplined without due process, while others were denied communications privileges and one inmate was given a crayon to write a letter to their attorney.

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Flowers had until 4:30 p.m. on Monday to appeal the decision, which he did.

Flowers has said the complaints against him are being made in retaliation. He said the complaints against him started coming in after he requested an investigation be launched into allegations that guards were beating inmates.

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An internal affairs investigation launched in May claims Flowers ordered inmates to be held in restraints “in a prone position naked for several days,” sent inmates to a specialized behavioral unit “without reason” and stripped inmates of commination and commissary privileges.

The county claims several employees reported to HR that Flowers yelled, disrespected them, and threatened their jobs.

But a letter Flowers sent to the county in August paints a much different picture. In it, Flowers claims he repeatedly tried to report what he calls “illegal and unlawful actions” to the county but says the issues were not corrected or addressed.

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Flowers that writes his life was turned upside down when he submitted a request in May calling for an investigation into allegations guards grabbed an inmate by the head and beat him until he was bloody.

Flowers claims the union and others immediately filed complaints against him in retaliation.

The county released a statement Friday stating that any claims it retaliated against Flowers for filing a complaint are false.

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Flowers does not have any prior complaints on his record.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating Flowers’ claims the county mishandled the guard abuse investigation.

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