DJJ Whistle Blower Fired
Mike Vasilinda
November 17, 2006
A high level investigator for the
Department of Juvenile Justice says he was fired for issuing a
report in the Martin Lee Anderson case that condemned the actions of
guards.
Steve Meredith was one of three
initial investigators at the Bay County Book Camp when Anderson died
last January. Meredith and another co-worker who concluded guards
acted improperly were fired, while a third investigator who
disagreed kept her job.
Martin Lee Anderson died last
January 6. His death is still under investigation and no charges
have been filed.
Steve Meredith was one of three
investigators from the state who were first on the site to
investigate the death. After seeing this videotape, Meredith
concluded guards acted improperly. He and another investigator who
agreed were fired.
Meredith told a news conference,
“The Secretary had asked a question about how bad this is, and I
don’t remember the exact wording, but either I made the statement or
he asked was this as bad as Rodney King? And I made the statement
that absolutely, yes it was.”
A third investigator who disagreed
with the other two is still working.
Ben Crump, The Anderson family
attorney who has filed suit against the state, says Meredith was let
go because he will now be considered a hostile witness with less
credibility than if he still worked for the State.
“And what Mr. Meredith was advising
is that they violated the policy. They violated their policy of
using these ammonia tablets. This was two months before it was
concluded that this is what killed Martin Lee Anderson.”
To this day, Steven Meredith has
not been told why he was let go.
Meanwhile, The Anderson’s attorney
says that with each day that passes, his parents are coming to
believe no one will be charged in their son’s death.
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