Following Governor Bill Walker asking the head of the corrections department to resign last month, the state has asked him to help with the department’s transition with the same rate of pay.
Walker spokeswoman Katie Marquette said former Department of Corrections Commissioner Ronald Taylor was asked in November to work for up to 90 days on a special project position at the same salary level as his prior department role.
She said Taylor can provide historical context and insight on department logistics to the acting commissioner and others.
Marquette called this a unique circumstance when asked if this was typical, and said Walker felt it was important to ensure a smooth transition.
An administrative review of the department was made public in November following the deaths of several inmates. That report found outdated policies, troubling training protocols, and cases of lax or informal consequences for apparent employee misconduct.
Walker appointed Taylor as commissioner last January. Following Taylor’s resignation last month, Walker appointed former state Public Safety commissioner Walt Monegan as the DOC acting commissioner.
Acting Commissioner Monegan was fired from his job as Public Safety Commissioner by former governor Sarah Palin’s administration during the “Troopergate” scandal of 2008.