Veteran Schenectady County jail guard suspended

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Lamendola

A veteran corrections officer at the Schenectady County Correctional Facility has been suspended following allegations he inappropriately touched women on the jail’s medical staff.

Shawn Hawkins was placed on paid leave Monday by the sheriff’s office, according to sources familiar with the case. Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino would not confirm Hawkins was being investigated or suspended, and County Manager Kathleen Rooney did not return a call.

Sources said, however, that Hawkins is accused of “unwanted touching” involving female staff members of Correctional Medical Care. The women making the allegations are not county employees. CMC is under contract with Schenectady County to provide on-site medical and pharmaceutical services to the jail’s 350 inmates. The county signed the contract in 2008.

Sources said Dagostino ordered an internal investigation into the allegations after they surfaced Monday. Investigators are collecting statements from the women and eventually will interview Hawkins. Sources said the investigation should wrap up next week.

Hawkins could face termination or disciplinary action, undergo retraining or be cleared by the investigation, according to the sources, but will likely not face criminal charges.

Hawkins was not available for comment. He earns about $58,000 a year and has been with the sheriff’s office for about 18 years.