LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Five inmates were taken to the hospital Friday after overdosing at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
Metro Corrections Director Dwayne Clark said EMS took five female inmates to the hospital for suspected overdoses early Friday morning. Three inmates have returned from the hospital, and Clark said the other two are expected to return later in the day.
According to documents obtained by WHAS11, EMS was notified of two inmates who possibly overdosed at around 5:15 a.m. About one hour later, EMS was notified of three other inmates who may have overdosed.
Corrections officers have searched areas where the inmates were, and are investigating the overdoses. Clark said the LMPD K-9 has been deployed.
A scheduled chemotherapy clinic will go on as planned, Clark said. None of the inmates who were hospitalized will need additional medical attention.
This is not the first time drugs have caused problems at Metro Corrections. Since 2019, LMPD has reported 22 calls to service for drug-related issues. So far this year, they've responded to 6, including a fatal overdose.
Yvette Sheets says she left the department because of how drug problems were handled. After working in the department for less than two months, she said, "I morally could not handle seeing those things being done."
She says on more than one occasion she found letters passed between inmates detailing drug deals, offering specific pills and instructions on how to make payments through Metro Corrections Inmate Accounts.
When she reported it, Sheets said, "sergeants took the notes, crumpled them up, and threw them away."
The Louisville Corrections Fraternal Order of Police is calling for a vote of no confidence in Clark amid what officers are calling critical staffing issues throughout 2021.
Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police President Sheriff Berl Perdue Jr. announced Friday his support of the Louisville Corrections FOP, saying LMDC leadership needs to be held accountable.
"Improving working conditions for officers, providing adequate and humane care for those in custody, and respecting the officers' need for time away to rest and be with loved ones is crucial to our goal," Perdue said.
The vote of no confidence in Clark is scheduled for Tuesday.
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