The warden of a troubled Wisconsin prison has stepped down amidst lockdown conditions, an ongoing federal investigation, and several inmate deaths.
Waupun Correctional Institution Warden Randall Hepp has made the decision to resign, as reported by the Wisconsin State Journal. In an email sent to prison staff, Hepp expressed that while it wasn’t an easy choice, he believes it will ultimately benefit the institution. He also acknowledged that the prison has taken significant steps in enhancing safety.
The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment from state Department of Corrections media officials and Governor Tony Evers spokesperson, Britt Cudaback on Sunday morning. However, there was no immediate response.
Brad Mlodzik, formerly the deputy warden at Waupun, is set to assume the role of warden on June 30th, according to a report by the State Journal.
The state Department of Corrections had to implement a lockdown at Waupun, Green Bay, and Stanley prisons due to a persistent shortage of guards. In October, inmates at Waupun filed a federal lawsuit, claiming that the conditions they were subjected to constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The lawsuit is still ongoing. Stanley prison returned to its regular operations in late November. While movement restrictions have been relaxed at Waupun and Green Bay, some restrictions still remain in effect.
In March, it was reported that federal authorities are currently investigating a suspected smuggling ring that involves employees at Waupun Correctional. According to Cudaback, Evers’ spokesperson, multiple prison searches have uncovered evidence of prohibited items, including cellphones and illegal drugs. As a result, a total of 11 prison employees have been suspended since May 2023 in connection with this ongoing investigation.
Four prisoners have lost their lives at Waupun since June 2023. One inmate took his own life while in solitary confinement, another died from a fentanyl overdose, and a third succumbed to a stroke. The fourth inmate was discovered deceased at the facility in February, with an ongoing investigation into the cause of his death. The daughter of the inmate who died by suicide in solitary confinement has filed a federal lawsuit, claiming that the officials at Waupun failed to provide her father with sufficient mental health care and necessary medication.
In May 2020, Hepp assumed the position of warden at Waupun. He embarked on his journey in the state prison system in 1984, starting as a guard at Dodge Correctional Institution.
