On Friday, Dec. 4, County Administrator Jack Brown made the decision to end Michael Tidwell’s duties as Escambia County Director of Corrections. Starting Dec. 4 jail command, community corrections and road prison staff will report directly to Assistant County Administrator Chip Simmons until the search for a new corrections director is complete.
Immediately, Simmons will work to fill an open health services administrator position and the medical unit will be placed back under the control of the jail commander who will now be empowered to make decisions regarding transporting inmates to an outside medical facility with or without medical staff recommendation. Additionally, a list of critically ill patients will be given to the command staff daily, with each shift providing an end of shift report to include updates on every infirmary patient to the jail commander.
At the 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10 Commission Agenda Review Meeting, County Administrator Jack Brown will present a report on the health care system at the jail completed by Alliance Medical Management. In May, Escambia County hired the consultant to conduct an analysis of the current system. Two medical system improvement options were recommended by the group to enhance services and improve operations – to privatize medical and mental health services or continue medical services under an in-house, full-time medical director. Brown is planning to make a recommendation to the board to approve the internal medical director option. This new position would be responsible for clinical policy direction and overall management of the health care program. Other recommendations include establishing an independent monitor position, better determining the financial needs for a successful detained health care program, and rebidding or restructuring the pharmaceutical contract to ensure best pricing. Click here to read the full report which establishes a framework for moving forward with improving jail medical services.
Per county policy, Tidwell was relieved of all duties and given 90 days' notice. Tidwell started as director on Jan. 26 and was responsible for community corrections, county jail and the road prison. His annual salary was $118,543. He replaced former director Gordon Pike, who retired in November 2014.
Tidwell was selected by a screening committee comprised of Escambia County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Eric Haines, Trial Court Administrator Robin Wright and Taylor County Chief Deputy Richard Johnson, who is also a member of the Florida Model Jail Inspections group, Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown and Chip Simmons who at that time was the Pensacola Chief of Police. Tidwell came to the county with more than 30 years’ experience, a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Lincoln University, and jail management and corrections executive certification.
