2 retired judges to lead prison uprising investigation

WILMINGTON, Del. (WTXF/AP) - Two retired judges will lead an independent review of the deadly uprising at a Delaware prison where four Department of Correction staffers were held hostage and one was killed.

Tuesday, Gov. John Carney appointed retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Henry duPont Ridgely and retired Family Court Judge William L. Chapman, Jr.

"We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to find out exactly what happened," the governor said. "These are two well-respected judges who are independent thinkers, with legal background and analytical skills necessary to perform a thorough review and make necessary recommendations. I thank Justice Ridgely and Judge Chapman for their willingness to take on this difficult but important task."

According to Gov. Carney, Justice Ridgely and Judge Chapman will review the events surrounding the Feb. 1 inmate uprising and hostage incident, and related security issues at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna, and make recommendations to help assure the safety and security of employees and inmates there.

The reviewers will present a preliminary report by June 1 and a final report by Aug. 15.

The review will start after the completion of the Delaware State Police criminal investigation into the death of correctional officer Steven Floyd, so it doesn't interfere. The Department of Correction also is conducting its own internal investigation.

The appointments were made in Executive Order Two:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER TWO

TO: HEADS OF ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

RE: NAMING RETIRED JUSTICE HENRY DUPONT RIDGELY AND RETIRED JUDGE WILLIAM L. CHAPMAN, JR. TO LEAD AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF SECURITY ISSUES AT DELAWARE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

WHEREAS, on February 1, 2017, an event occurred at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, in which several inmates took several employees hostage, and assaulted a correctional officer leading to the correctional officer's death; and

WHEREAS, since February 1, 2017, the events leading up to the hostage incident, and the response thereto, are being reviewed by investigative authorities, including the Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction Internal Affairs Unit; and

WHEREAS, it is advisable and in the best interest of the State that independent examiners review the events surrounding the hostage incident and related security issues at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, and the findings from the investigations conducted by the Delaware State Police and the Department of Correction, and make recommendations to help assure the safety and security of all persons housed in and working at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center.

NOW, THEREFORE, I JOHN C. CARNEY, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER the following:

APPROVED this 14th date of February 2017.

Secretary of State