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HARRISBURG (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) — Three corrections officers have been arrested this year; accused of attempting to smuggle contraband into state prisons.
The State Corrections Department announced in a release Wednesday 46-year-old officer Stephen Palermini tried to bring a controlled substance and cell phone into SCI Somerset.
36-year-old SCI Houtzdale food service instructor Rick Davis and 35-year-old SCI Cambridge Springs officer Skyler Galgon face felony drug charges.
All three are suspended without pay pending investigation.
“When we closed off the mail as a major avenue for drugs getting into prisons we knew there would be pressure on other avenues for contraband introduction and that includes staff,” said Corrections Secretary John Wetzel.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy on contraband in our facilities, whether it is introduced by visitors, staff or other means and violators will be prosecuted.”
Last year, state prisons stopped receiving paper mail to prevent drugs entering facilities.
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