The True Story of Cali...

The True Story of California Prison Guard DJ Vodicka, Whistleblower - Yahoo

The True Story of California Prison Guard DJ Vodicka, Whistleblower

Jun 16, 2008

"Serpico" in the Prison System

When Frank Serpico blew the whistle on corruption in the New York City Police Department in the early 1970s, he hoped going through proper channels would bring about the necessary reform. Instead what he found was corruption at every new level, and his revelations nearly cost him his life. The film was a huge box office success and the book was a bestseller.

Donald J Vodicka's hair-raising story is no less compelling.

For Donald J. Vodicka (known as DJ) , breaking the "Code of Silence" among members of "The Green Wall" of guards at Salinas Valley State Prison, a maximum security prison in California, nearly cost him his life, and did cost him his family, his home, and a highly decorated 18- year career in law enforcement, among other things. To this day he lives in hiding and wears a bullet proof vest.

He never wanted to betray anyone, especially his fellow prison guards. He never wanted his peers to lose their jobs. But after his reports, he was called a ''rat'' and a "snitch" - a guaranteed death sentence in a maximum security prison. All he wanted was for those in charge to correct the situation and move forward.

But peace and harmony do not follow the man who sticks his neck out and does the right thing, as in this case. DJ Vodicka took a step forward and raised his voice to say "this isn't right" . He stood alone. Others knew he was right, but they keep silent. They expected, and wanted, DJ to shut up or, disappear. His peers abandoned him, leaving him to fend for himself. A very dangerous situation to be - especially in a prison full of murderers, gang-bangers, and lifers.....

DJ Vodicka first became aware of the Green Wall in about 1998 when he was strongly advised to shirk his responsibilities as an evidence-gatherer after a prison riot. After the prison riot (between inmates and guards), members of the Green Wall asked DJ not to take pictures of the inmates involved in the riot until after some furtherinterviews of the inmates. DJ refused. Later those same inmates appeared with severe cuts and bruises, all of which did not appear in DJ's photos. The inmates' families complained and DJ Vodicka's photos made the reality obvious. Yet, despite the complaints , the warden's investigation found no culpability and no one was reprimanded.

Thereafter, violence intensified in the overcrowded prison and the warden needed to get control of the inmates. He hand-selected a few guards to "instill fear and intimidation in to the inmates". With the Green Wall now shrouded with the warden's blessing, membership in The Green Wall grew. The beatings continued. False evidence was planted in inmate's cells. The Green Wall shared an secret hand signal, signifying a "GW". Green Wall parties were organized off prison grounds, even serving green beer. The Green Wall grew like a cancer at Salinas Valley State Prison: powerful, intimidating, vicious, made up entirely of guards -- men and women who had sworn to uphold the law - and supported by the warden.

DJ Vodicka complained to his superiors, who promised to look into it. They did nothing!

Vodicka produced a document and tremulously turned it in. The document was stamped "Confidential" five times. Assurances were made to Vodicka that only the warden would see it. Vodicka felt that he had left the matter in their "competent" hands. Or so he thought. But soon his life would become a living nightmare.

Everyone knew there were criminals in the prison system, among the guards, that is.

But only one guard (DJ VODICKA) had the courage to speak up.

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