STATE OF WP,SHII>JGTOI'J

DEPARTIIIIENT OF CORRECTIONS
OFFICE OF CORRECTIONH OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS CENTER FOR WOMEN
P.O Box 17, IvlS WP-Otl· 960l Bujactcn Rd NW . Gig Harbor WJ.,98335-0017

April 26,2005

TO:

Jane Parnell
l.'..
Associate supe.rinte.n
, . d.e.nt1 / ,. (

FROM:

Kelly

)(etlf~ /~1'.\CD~ ~k~L' j

Correct1on~l~st1gafu~)

SUBJECT: . Possible Staff~isconduct RE: Correctional Counselor 1 Horticulture
Program Melissa Titus CASE WCCW 04-043-05

Svnopsis
On March 22, 2005, Intelligence and lnvesti ation Unit was contacted by Lieutenant
Alex Simmons who said that Offende
had written a letter
that stated Correctional Counselor 1 (CC1) Melissa Titus a pushed her twice in the
hallway of the MI School.
Offender
1 conducted an interview wit~, on April 20,2005, she stated that on April
20,2005. She was standing in the hallway of the Education Bldg. talking with another
offender when CC1 Titus was walking bye and said, "move", then pushed her left arm.
Offender. said, she told her "Don't touch me." Offender"said that CC1 Titus
then told her "then get out of my way," and pushed her upper left shoulder. Offender
_ t a t e d that she then told CCI Titus "man I asked you not to touch me." She said
that Ce1 Titus said, "1 bet you'll move next time."
Offender_aid that she has never interacted with CC1 Titus before. Upon returning
to her unit she told Sergeant Richard Smith what had occurred with eC1 Titus. 1 asked
her if she would take a polygraph and she said, "Yes." (See attachment #1)
Offender
1 conducted an interview with Offender
, on April 20,
2005. Offender_ said that she was coming out of the computer class in the
Education building when she heard Offender
say "Don't touch me.
"Working To;tether for SA.FE Communities"

945

WCCW 03-011-05
2

1 said don't put you hands on me." She then heard someone say, "next time you'll move
out of my way."
OtIender-"aid that she did not see the incident only heard what was said.
Correctional Counselor 1 Horticulture Program Melissa Titus

On April 26, 2005, 1 conducted an interview with Correctional Counselor 1 Melissa
Titus. She said she was walking down the hall to the Horticulture Classroom the halls
filled with offenders returning to the unit for the 1600 count.
She said that an offender she did not know had stopped directly in front of her. She said,
"Excuse me, please move," then again repeated "Excuse me, please move."
She said that the offender"was talking very loud to another offender who was a
little ways down the hall. CCl Titus said she had to direct the offender to continue to
move, CCl Titus said that Offend~id not comply but simply continued to stand
blocking her and talking to another offender, She said she then lightly touched Offender
Rutter with a diskette to gain her attention and that the offender then turned around and
faced her and CC1 Titus advised her to disperse.
I asked CCl Titus if she had pushed the offenders left ann. She said, "Absolutely not."
Then 1 asked if she had pushed her upper left shoulder. CC1 Titus said, "Absolutely
not." She said that if necessary what she should have done was to have her stand for a
pat search and notify the Shift Lt. that Offender refused to disperse, however she did not.
(See Attachment #2)
Conclusion:

On April 24, 2005, Polygraph Examiner William Tuff GSR Polygraph Service
administers a polygraph examination on Offend
0 verify
or refute the subject's allegation of the situation, which occurred on Wednesday, April
20,2005, involving Correctional Counselor 1 Melissa Titus.
The polygraph Examiner asked the following question:
1. Did Correctional Counselor Titus push you twice in the hall of the school on April 20,
2005. Offender~as not attempting deception when she answered "yes" to the
following relevant question.
2, While you were standing in the hall ofthe school did Correctional Counselor Titus us
her hand to push you, Offende~as not attempting deception when she answered
"yes" to the following relevant question.
Based on the above information CC1 Titus did admit that she lightly touched Offender
~ith a diskette to gain her attention. In the Employee Handbook page 8 & 9, it
946

WCCW 03-011-05
3

states that you are not allowed to engage in verbal assaults, threatening behavior, or
physical assaults against staff, offenders, or the public.
Attachment:

•
•
•

Letter Offende~dated 4-20-05
incident Report Correctional Counselor 1 Melissa Titus dated 4-20-05
Letter Offender

947

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STATE OFWASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

INCIDENT REPORT

o Confidential
DATErriME OF INCIDENT

LIVING UNIT

04/20105 - 1552
LOCATION

WITNESSES

C-Building Hallway

NIA

USE OF FORCE INCIDENT?

0

YES

[8J NO

DETAILS: Who was involved, what fuok place, how did it happen, description of any injuries, damage, use of force, etc. Attach
additional sheet, if necessary.

•

At recall I was walking down C-Building (MI School) hallway to the Horticulture Classroom #10. The hallways were filled
with offenders leaving their classrooms enroute to their units for the 1600 count.
Stopped directly in front of me was an offender
with her back turned to me. I stated,
g very au y 0 ano er 0 enoer farther down the school hallway. I
"Excuse me - please move" twic~, She was tal
then directed her to continue to move as it was recall. She did not comply and continued talking with her back to me.
I then lightly touched her shoulder with the diskette in my right hand to gain her attention. The offender then whirled
around and faced me.

I advised the offender to dispurse. At thattime she began walking down the hallway to the exit door.
End of report.

IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN:
Finished escorting visitor to Public Access. On the way out spoke to Mi School Officer D. Gordon about the inmate.
Determined the inmates identity a
Spoke to MSU Sergeant Richard Smith about the interaction with the inmate.
Wrote written report.

•

CC1-

04/20/05

Horticulture Counselor
STAFF SIGNATURE (Please Print)

TITLE

DATE

TO BE GOMPLETED.·BYCHIEFINVESTIGATOR
DATEITIME RECEIVED

' .'

INCIDENT NUMBER

OATE

BY

INVESTIGATION ASSIGI,ED TO

..

ouonc

The contents of thiS document may be eligIble for
dIsclosure. Socral Secunty Numbers are conSIdered confident/at Informat/on and WI/(be
redacted in the event of such a request., This form is governed by Executive Order 00-03, RCW 42.17, and RCW 40.14.

,.~-- r- - .. r c o'~,i 1;';-":!':IVi~i-'~!

Distribution:

WHITE - Chief Investigator

DDC 21-917 109110104)

••

CANARY· Executive Team Member

PINK - Originator

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GOLDENROD - Immediate Supervise" 95

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GSU
."OL\'GUA."II SEU\'ICES
William D. Tufts

tl1
1409 1S Ave

cr.

SW

Puyallup, WA 98371

.·OI,YGUA."II EXAMINATION UEI"OUT
TO:

Investigator Kelly Kelly
Department of Corrections
Washington Corrections Center for Women
9601 Bujacich Road NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Subject:

Examination Date:

04/24/05

DOB:

Offense:

Statement Verification

Requested by:

Purpose of Examination: T ~ r refute the subject's allegation Officer Titus used her
hand and pushed the sUbje~twice.

Prior to the polygraph examination, the subject was advised of her Polygraph Rights and waived
these rights by signing the attached form.

CONCLUSIONS
A polygraph examination was administrator to the subject on the above issues.

Based on the physiological responses produced by the subject on three (3) polygraph
charts, in the opinion of this examiner, she was not attempting deception when she
answered "yes" to the following relevant questions:

1. Did Officer Titus push you twice in the hallway of the school on April 20, 2005?
2. While you were standing in the hallway of the school, did Officer Titus use her hand to

push you?

Examiner: William D. Tufts

April 24, 2005
Date of Report

953

POLYGRAPH EXf\lvIINA TIOI~ STATEMEI'H OF COI~S ENT

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cdmlnICtcred

by G S R

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polvgr~ph

W CC- ~

services lor the

cOnCerrllfl'~ W1~ l),utl ~CC4~ I also u ndr rstnnd 'hell

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a polygrwph ex arrunauon

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my consent

,c..,dditionJII:

I hold G S R polygraph services and William TullS harmless and lree lrorn anv

hJrmless :lny rersons or <lgencies rrom a nv ::md all c\rl\ms or \i::\bi\itics allegt'd to result lrorr, C':
anse our of uus examinauon

Understanding

11m I have rnc unqualified righl 10 rcluse ,

do hereby. this date, voluumri l y arid without duress. coercion, \lnl~wrul indur cmrn: or

.nf ormauor. obraincd during lhis process \\1'111 not be relellsed to me

Do 1e

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954

GSR
POLYGRAPH SERVICES
INVOICE # 05-017
FederallD 532626194
William D. Tufts
]409 18" A ve Court SW

Puyallup, WA 9837]

04/24/05
Department of Corrections
Office of Correctional Operations
Attn: Kelly Kelly
9601 Bujacich Road NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335-0017
Attn: Investigator Kelly

A polygraph examination was administered to the following subjects:

04-24-05

$200.00

Total Examination Fee

$200.00

We appreciate your business!
GSR Polvvranh SeTV1[;p:s

14091Rtb Ave, Court SW PJ,v811nn WA 9R'l71

2~1-770-1477

955

State of Washh.#~on

Form
A l!J°:lA

VOUCHER DISTRIBUTION

{REV. 1/91)

AGIiNCY NUMBER

LOCATION CODE

310A
veneer Nllmllllnd Addreat

LTO

A(lENCY P.R. OR AUTHORIZATIOO NUMBER

G2
AGENCY

GSR Polygraph Services
William D. Tufts
1409 18th Ave CT. SW
Puyallup, WA 98371

tU<M~ I<ND LOc..o.TION

WA CORR CENTER FOR WOMEN
PO BOX 17
GIG HARBOR, WA 98335-0017

RE(;I:I~EOUY

DATERECElVEtI

Investigator Kelly
UBE SPI\CE BELOW A6 1\ WORKIIHEET TO DEVELOP 011 EJ<PLl\lH THE 000D6 OR IIERVlCEtl pURCHAIIED

PREP....RED BY

5-4-05

SlAPtJ;.INIIOlCE6 ON UACK

DATE

DI\TE

Kelly Kelly
VENDOR NUMBER

DOC.DI\TE.

\'IORK CLASS

DOC

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TRANt

BUF

CODE

COUNn
BUDGET

ALl.DC

UBI NUMeER

AIIIOUNT

200.00

ACCOUtmNl.I

APPRO~I\L FOR

PAYMENT

INVOICE NUMBER

UNIT

DATE

05-017

WARRANT HUMBER

200.00

956