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Crist Picks Prisons Chief

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By JOSH POLTILOVE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

TAMPA - Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Walter A. McNeil on Tuesday to run the state's Department of Corrections.

McNeil had been head of the Department of Juvenile Justice for the past year.

"Walt is an excellent leader and has done a tremendous job working with community partners to address the challenges within our juvenile justice system," Crist said in a statement. "I am honored that he has agreed to transfer his leadership to the Department of Corrections, and I am confident he will continue the good work we have accomplished there."

McNeil will replace James McDonough, who had led the Department of Corrections since February 2006.

McNeil said he didn't apply for the position. The governor tapped him on the shoulder, he said.

"I'm excited, quite honestly," McNeil said. "The governor saw a need and contacted me, and looked at my background and concluded that, from his perspective, I'm the person for the job. I'm just honored to be the person to step up and do it."

McNeil said he doesn't have any immediate changes in mind for the department.

"My first bit of business is to go in and evaluate where we are," he said. "I've had some conversations with Secretary McDonough, and he assures me we have some top-notch staff in that department."

As head of Juvenile Justice, McNeil appointed a 25-member commission to help reform the state's system. The commission held public meetings throughout the state and listened to comments on how to improve the system.

McNeil, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, has served as Tallahassee's police chief.

Several state lawmakers said last week that McDonough worked hard to improve a department that has faced major issues. His predecessor was sentenced to federal prison after being convicted of accepting bribes in a kickback scheme. McDonough got rid of personnel, including a deputy assistant secretary and several prison wardens.

In June 2006, McDonough told The Associated Press the state's prisons had been purged of organized corruption.

He announced late last year, however, that an investigation had shown more than 1,000 prison inmates and their families paid for improper transfers to other facilities. The investigation led the department to reprimand three high-ranking officials for the way they helped allow inmates to transfer.

One of those officials resigned. If he hadn't, he would have been fired, McDonough said.

"Secretary McDonough is a man of impeccable integrity and has brought a new standard of professionalism, public service and transparency to the Department of Corrections," Crist said in his statement. "In every way, he has improved the agency and leaves the agency in a much better place than when he arrived two years ago."

The governor's media office faxed the resumes of three applicants to the Tribune on Monday, and McNeil's was not included. The media office did not return phone messages or e-mail Monday when asked whether the three applicants were the only candidates for the corrections post.

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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