8-03-2024 3:08pm

Otero County Detention Center: A Mothers Plight for Answers

Chris Edwards Editor

In a continuation of our ongoing series on concerns with the level of unrest and suicides in the Otero County Detention Center that is operated under a contract for Otero County, we have received a variety of documents via IPRA requests and have heard from some of the families of suicide victims involved to include Jena Matise the mother of David Tomisk.

The low staffing levels and lack of training have resulted in an increase in drugs flowing into the facility; an increase in violence and a potential increase in the suicide deaths. Health care in the facility remains a concern and health care staff admit they are limited in their ability and capacity to provide the level of care needed for many of those detained.

In response to IPRA requests submitted concerning staffing levels the Detention Center provided us with the following information; ”that eight officers are assigned to each shift (days and nights) with one supervising officer to seven floor officers. The medical staff on the day shift consists of two registered/certified nurses and/or paramedics as well as the Health Service Administrator and Director of Nursing who are also registered nurses (four medical employees total). The medical staff on the night shift consists of two nurses/paramedics.

The facility also has a Certified Mental Health Coordinator and Counselor on site during the day. These Mental Health providers are on-call during non-working hours and can embolize at a seconds notice and are available to the detainees of OCDC 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if any crisis or situation may arise that requires their assistance or attention.”

A former medical care provider had approached our media company expressing concerns, mentioning that a number of “attempted suicides had occurred recently” on site, it was also reported to us that “when medical staff is making rounds to medicate inmates they are supposed to be accompanied by 2 officers for their safety and on many occasions they were forced to make rounds either unsupervised or with only 1 officer” verses the prescribed 2 to ensure safety.

As a part of our investigation we asked for stats on suicides that have occurred at the facility the last year to present. One suicide has been confirmed for this year at the detention center by hanging in March. Last year the detention center has 2 hangings, one suicide by overdose and one death by natural causes a total of 4 deaths at the facility. Since we have received documentation of other attempted suicides and continue to hear complaints by staff of under staffing, lack of training, administrative leaders that wont meet with inmates and turn a blind eye to staff complaints.

"The Otero County Commission is failing in oversight and is putting at risk medical staff and detainees by their negligence," according to one staffer afraid to be named for fear of retaliation.

The facility had struggled in past years with significant staffing shortages which show staffing shortages especially at night and of experienced workers.

Staffing issues and trained experienced staff has been an ongoing concern at the Otero County Detention Center resulting in lawsuits alleging wrongdoing deaths. As recently as October of 2023 it was reported that the vacancy rate for detention center employees was 32%.

The lack of trained staff and experience has resulted in a significant increase in drugs flowing into the jail. That flow of drugs has been alleged to have come with staff assisting in bringing drugs in. That fact is proven by a sting that took place in 2022 and a conviction that just occurred of former Corrections Officer Jeremy Snider who was convicted by the 12th Judicial District of collaboration into bringing drugs into the facility.

According to staff sorry Snider was young, ill trained and easily intimidated by detainees. One staff member said, "that during many shifts he was the only officer on the floor and was easily manipulated due to his lack of experience and training and lack of enough support personnel on site to ensure order."

According to records obtained Snider along with others was allowing drugs to be smuggled in "via pizza boxes and via glue sticks." Snider would allow certain inmates out to acquire the drugs and bring them back into the facility as per pictured below.

Of the multiple suicides that have been reported, one mother, Jena Matise has been vocal about wanting to understand the facts a suicide in the jail of her son that occurred. She is visibly concerned with a lack of information to her family and to the public about events at the jail. She has many questions that have not been answered and seeks answers from the DA, County Administrators and jail administrators. Below is a statement from her addressing her concerns...

Jena Matise- "In 2022, my son, David Shjan Tomsik exposed a drug trafficking ring taking place in Otero County jail where he was incarcerated. Over a period of 5 days, a undercover sting operation took place in the jail from July 31, through Aug 5 2022.

Jeremy Snider a corrections officer with Otero County jail and 2 inmates conspired to traffic narcotics through the jail

My son David reported this activity to a trusted guard who then took him to proper authorities within the jail

For what ever reason Twelfth Judicial courts of Otero county or the arresting agency failed to informed the public of this issue inside our county jail.

Even after Jeremy Snider's arrest, and David Shjan's emergency release from jail, signed off by Judge Angie Schneider and the eventual conviction and sentencing of Jeremy Snider, there was still no public statement from the District Attorney's office in regards to what is going on in our county jail

On January 20, 2023, David Shjan was arrested in Pima County AZ, and 2 weeks later was transfered back to Otero County for probation violation, or failure to report.

After several months of being incarcerated, mostly in segregation, and waiting to testify against Mr. Snider, David Shjan took his life on May 27, 2023.

Almost one year after Davids death, March 28 and 29, 2024, a 2 day trial took place, finding Mr. Snider guilty of 4 counts of conspiring to commit trafficking of narcotics and contraband through Otero County jail

Still, no press release to warn the public....

On July 22, 2024, Jeremy Snider was sentenced to 5 years in prison at the New Mexico dept of Corrections, with 4 years of parole.

Mr. Snider was immediately remanded into custody. Still, no statement from the District Attorneys office.

This is only one of the many issues that continue to plague Otero County Jail

There have been numerous riots or disruptions stemming back to 2017, there has been an inmate escape while doing his work duties, corrections officers and law enforcement "falling" out due to Fentynal exposure, from drugs actively being smoked in the facility

Several suicides and attempted suicides have taken place in the last 432 days, in both segregated and holding cells

As citizens of Alamogordo, we have a right to know what is going on in our county jail.

Otero County jail is severely in need of help, for every human being in that facility!

Our community has the right to be informed of the conditions of the jail, as the conditions not only put the inmates in danger, but also the jail administration, and our local Sheriff's dept employees in danger. If our county jail is in danger, it directly affects our community's safety."

The Otero County Detention Center in Alamogordo New Mexico continues to operate with questions around staffing levels, staff training and rather staff is developed and equipped to handle the job before them.

The 12th Judicial District DA and the Otero County Commission owes the public answers as well as answers are needed for the families of the multiple suicides that have occurred.

Of the most recent conviction of Mr. Snider the DA has yet to release a statement. During his trail there were statements alluding speculation that organized crime had infiltrated the local detention center.

A source within the DA's office confirmed that further investigations are ongoing and that more information may be available in the near term. The office would not comment on issues around the death of David Shjan Tomsik .Stay tuned as this is an ongoing investigative series.