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Main Page Former WCSO Sgt writes book
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Monday, November 19, 2007 Off the cellblock, into the book

The ‘Laughter’ began in jail

By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
ssutner@telegram.com

Mike Szaban, a former correction officer, in his book-laden Rutland bedroom.I haven’t seen it. I haven’t read it. I will not purchase it. I will not waste my time reading it.

Jeffrey R. Turco,
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT AT THE JAIL

Mike Szaban has seen it all, as he writes in the blurb for his new book, “Laughter Behind the Tiers,” a humorous novel based on his 17 years as a hard-driving correction officer at the rough-and-tumble Worcester County Jail and House of Correction.

Now he’s telling it all.

He recently unveiled a self-published 260-page book on his experiences at the West Boylston jail.

But don’t expect to find any complimentary reviews from Mr. Szaban’s old boss, Sheriff Guy W. Glodis, or Mr. Glodis’ deputy superintendent at the jail, Jeffrey R. Turco. The brass at the jail consider Mr. Szaban a disgruntled former employee and they are dismissing the book, sight unseen.

Mr. Szaban, who was a sergeant at the jail and an avid foot soldier in Mr. Glodis’ successful 2004 campaign to unseat the longtime sheriff, John M. Flynn, left the jail last March — under cloudy circumstances.

He claims the sheriff forced him to resign after he let inmates in the minimum security unit have a couple of pairs of sneakers and a box of colored pencils. Mr. Turco, a lawyer who handles most of the jail’s disciplinary proceedings, won’t comment on Mr. Szaban’s personnel history, though he hinted that it was tumultuous.

“Some people are going to be mad,” said Mr. Szaban, 44, of Rutland.

One likely group of readers is correction officers at the jail. One of them, Peter Boyd, a former union steward, has already ordered a copy and expects to get it soon.

Mr. Boyd, who worked with Mr. Szaban for about 10 years, remembers the former sergeant as a wisecracker with a pencil.

“He always talked about writing a book when he retired. He was always taking notes,” Mr. Boyd said. “The book is going to be great. It’s everything that happened over a 17-year period.”

Mr. Turco’s reaction was considerably less charitable.

The deputy superintendent confessed that he had read the blurb on Amazon.com. But that’s about all he’ll read, he said.

“I haven’t seen it. I haven’t read it. I will not purchase it,” Mr. Turco said. “I will not waste my time reading it.”

After inquiries from a reporter about the book, Mr. Turco decided to release an official statement.

“The sheriff runs a tight ship. He holds everybody accountable,” the statement reads. “As a consequence, there have been dozens and dozens of political supporters who have been disciplined.

“As a result, you’re bound to have disgruntled former employees who make outlandish and outrageous accusations, with an ax to grind,” it continues. “We have no intention of reading that book. We will just re-read the officer’s disciplinary record.”

In addition to over-the-top tales of inmate antics, Mr. Szaban devotes ink to his growing dissatisfaction with the old sheriff’s reign, his work to put a new sheriff in charge — and his conviction that nothing changed after Sheriff Glodis was elected.

“He helps to overthrow the infrastructure, only to find that the new sheriff, whom he helped to win the election, is not only worse than the previous one, but becomes the sergeant’s demise,” Mr. Szaban writes about the fictional character based upon himself.

The book is published by BookSurge, a self-publishing house owned by Amazon that prints books on demand. When one sells, BookSurge prints it and Amazon ships it to the customer.

Mr. Szaban says he wrote the book at his computer in three months in a process he describes as cobbling together the anecdotes he had recorded over the years so he wouldn’t forget them.

The 260-pound scribe, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle rider, chess history fanatic and U.S. Army veteran, said his appearance is nothing like what a writer is supposed to look like.

“I’m kind of like a biker guy on too much ice cream,” he said.

He said one of his favorite anecdotes in the book is based on an incident about 10 years ago in a maximum-security unit. Mr. Szaban and a 300-pound-plus correction officer whom he calls “Carl” tried to restrain a smallish but powerfully built prisoner who was “ripped,” apparently from many hours in the weight room.

The inmate wouldn’t stop his loud preaching in the middle of the night, so Mr. Szaban and Carl went into his cell to quiet him.

When they got there, the man was standing naked on his bunk. Somehow, he picked Carl up by his neck and told the giant correction officer: “I’m going to bless you, my brother.”

Summoning a third guard, the officers violently scuffled with the inmate, trying to restrain him. Mr. Szaban said he repeatedly punched the man.

As fists and blood flew, the prisoner looked Mr. Szaban straight in the eye and said: “I forgive you.”

Contact Shaun Sutner by e-mail at ssutner@telegram.com.

Posted by: SinePari

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBC FL Cop

“He helps to overthrow the infrastructure, only to find that the new sheriff, whom he helped to win the election, is not only worse than the previous one, but becomes the sergeant’s demise,” Mr. Szaban writes about the fictional character based upon himself.

Another reason for the DOC to run all the jails. Let Cadillac Deville appoint some schmuck and the union could handle all the grievances, and then you'll get another one. When a sheriff gets elected he's happier than a tornado in a trailer park.

Posted by: lawdog671

Actually worked with Mike in the Maxi area when I was there. He's bit of a smartass....well a lot of a smartass but a good guy..hope he does well with his book

Posted by: MARINECOP

Just finished his book and I thought it was a good and easy read. Anyone else read this book yet?

Posted by: KozmoKramer

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone read "Screw: the Truth About Walpole State Prison By the Guard Who Lived It" by Michael McLaughlin?

I know we had threads on that topic before, I was just wondering if anyone has been able to buy it or has read it since that last thread was opened in 05'.

Posted by: MARINECOP

Quote:

Originally Posted by KozmoKramer

Not to hijack the thread, but has anyone read "Screw: the Truth About Walpole State Prison By the Guard Who Lived It" by Michael McLaughlin?

I know we had threads on that topic before, I was just wondering if anyone has been able to buy it or has read it since that last thread was opened in 05'.

Forgot about that one. Just checked Amazon and it is currently unavailable.
http://www.amazon.com/Screw-Truth-Ab...9414642&sr=1-2

Posted by: Wiggum_1

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARINECOP

Forgot about that one. Just checked Amazon and it is currently unavailable.
http://www.amazon.com/Screw-Truth-Ab...9414642&sr=1-2

Try a library, thats how I got a hold of it, and it was realy good.

Posted by: Loyal

there are some good local books - Screw, Midnites (Welfleet PD) and one about MCI Bridgewater
(I thought "Screw" was the one about Bridgewater.. are you sure you have the right title of the Walpole book ?)

Posted by: Wiggum_1

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal

there are some good local books - Screw, Midnites (Welfleet PD) and one about MCI Bridgewater
(I thought "Screw" was the one about Bridgewater.. are you sure you have the right title of the Walpole book ?)

They're both titled "Screw" but also have wording on the cover to tell them apart, plus I think they were written several years apart.
The Walpole book was written by the CO Union Pres. and most of the book dealt with his dealings with the DOC management.

Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Mike Szaban stands guard over his booty at the Rutland Annual Town- Wide Yard Sale on Saturday. Szaban was one of many selling their wares throughout town.

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