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Maupin: Kilquist's resignation was pressured

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Friday, October 10, 2008 11:14 PM CDT

MURPHYSBORO - A former superintendent's resignation and a supervisor's firing at the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro were the result of pressure from top department administrators, claims a representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Superintendent William Kilquist resigned in July after resisting pressure to fire 22-year veteran corrections employee Gerald Hysom, AFSCME Council 31 Regional Director Buddy Maupin said Friday.

Hysom was a juvenile justice supervisor at the boot camp facility. He was ultimately fired Aug. 8 by officials in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

Derek Schnapp, spokesman with Illinois Central Management Services, which oversees the department, said department policy prevents him from discussing why Hysom was fired, but he did confirm Hysom was discharged.

Maupin said Hysom was fired under false pretenses for allegedly mistreating an inmate. However, Maupin claims a video tape of Hysom and the inmate will exonerate the employee. Maupin said the tape is in the possession of the juvenile justice department and authorities haven't turned it over.

In a Sept. 19 letter addressed to CMS Labor Relations Attorney Greg Newton, Maupin said Hysom "engaged in absolutely no wrongdoing" and that juvenile justice officials were "withholding exculpatory evidence."

"He (Hysom) followed procedure, but they have not given us access to the video," Maupin said. "My question is, what have they got to hide? When government acts to conceal the truth and obstruct justice as they are doing in this case, it's a serious public policy concern."

"If CMS is unsuccessful in compelling DJJ to provide the tape, we'll seek through arbitration to compel its production," Maupin added. "We'll end up getting it eventually."

For his part, Hysom said he has to be careful about what he says because the matter is not resolved.

"I will say that I agree with the contents of Buddy's letter," he said.

Officials from the Department of Children and Family Services investigated the alleged incident that led to Hysom's firing. A letter provided by Maupin with DCFS letterhead shows their investigation yielded no evidence that Hysom committed any abuse.

"After a thorough evaluation, we have determined the report to be unfounded, DCFS Administrator Linda Everette-Williams wrote in the letter, dated Aug. 21.

Among those who pressured Kilquist to fire Hysom was the juvenile justice department's acting director, Kurt Freidenauer, Maupin said.

Calls to Freidenauer were directed to Schnapp, who said he is not able to confirm any other details surrounding the case or any pending union action against the agencies.

Reached by phone Friday afternoon, Kilquist said he also agreed with Maupin's letter.

"The letter speaks for itself; I don't find any problems with what it says," Kilquist said. "I've never been one to voice my case in the media. The main thing is that Mr. Hysom gets fair, equal and honest representation on this matter."

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com

351-5823