Stillwater prison warden fired following suspension

The Minnesota Department of Corrections terminated the top official at one of the state's largest prisons this week for breaking several policies, including one related to sexual harassment and discrimination.

In September prison officials suspended Steve Hammer, warden of Stillwater prison, pending an investigation of an undisclosed nature. In a letter dated Oct. 18, Bruce Reiser, assistant commissioner for the department, officially fired Hammer effective Wednesday.

The notice does not specify the reason for the termination, except to say Hammer violated at least five department policies, including the employee code of conduct, policies around e-mail and those related to "anti-discrimination and sexual harassment."

In addition to warden, Hammer also held a CEO title with the department.

"Your actions resulted in a breach of trust and confidence that are required for these positions," Reiser wrote in the letter to Hammer.

Department spokeswoman Sarah Fitzgerald would not comment beyond the letter.

Hammer has a history of breaking the rules when it comes to personal boundaries. Since starting work for Minnesota prisons in 1991, he's been disciplined twice for engaging in inappropriate relationships with staff, according to department disciplinary records.

King wrote that the relationship might create rumors among other staff, give the perception of preferential treatment and "cause staff to question their confidence, trust and respect for the office of the Warden and [Hammer's] decision-making going forward."

"This situation has resulted in the considerable discussion about your ability to effectively manage the facility and the staff under your direction," King wrote.

In 2002, when Hammer worked as acting assistant superintendent at the juvenile facility in Red Wing, an employee accused him of making flirtatious remarks, including inviting her to meet him on his boat at 6:30 a.m. because he "thought that she was lonely," and sending a " 'kidding' e-mail about watching her on the institution's cameras, an issue that [Hammer] admitted [he] knew she was highly sensitive about," according to disciplinary records.

"Your behavior with regard to [the employee], regardless of how you intended it, was inappropriate," reads the disciplinary letter.

"You have been to [a] variety of training sessions and involved in numerous discussions of the sexual harassment policy and the need to make sure that sexual harassment of employees is not tolerated. While you may have believed your conduct to be amusing, clever, witty or simply 'friendly,' the impact was far different."

According to Reiser's recent letter, an investigator interviewed Hammer on Sept. 30 about unspecified allegations, and a subsequent investigation substantiated several of the claims. Hammer, who could not be reached for comment, has the opportunity to appeal the termination.