Minnesota Department of Corrections Names New Stillwater State Prison Warden

The Minnesota Department of Corrections has appointed a new warden to take over the Stillwater state prison after firing Steve Hammer last week. Eddie Miles, who began his career with the Minnesota Department of Corrections in 1992 as a corrections officer at the Lino Lakes prison, will take over as warden for the Stillwater state prison Nov. 2.

Miles' predecessor, Hammer, was fired Oct. 19 for violating policies related to anti-discrimination, sexual harassment, electronic communications, personnel files, and more. Hammer was terminated after he was originally placed on leave pending a Department of Corrections investigation back in September.

According to the Stillwater Gazette, Hammer was dismissed as the prison's warden for violating department policies.

Memos show that Hammer has a history of poor behavior while working for the department. The Star Tribune reported that Stillwater prison Warden Hammer was disciplined twice for inappropriate conduct with staff earlier in his career before he was placed on leave last Monday.

Hammer has overseen the state's top prison since March 2015. Previously, Hammer was the warden of the Rush City prison. There, Hammer was disciplined for engaging in a romantic relationship with an employee.
The assistant commissioner at that time, John King, told Hammer in an August 2014 memo that the relationship could "cause staff to question their confidence, trust and respect for the office of the Warden" and Hammer's future decision making.

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

Another memo reveals an incident that took place more than 13 years ago.

While working at a juvenile facility in Red Wing, Hammer admitted to making flirtatious comments to a female employee by email and phone.

According to the memo, Hammer invited the woman to meet him on his boat because he thought the she "was lonely."

Hammer also sent what the memo calls a "kidding" email about watching the woman on the facility's cameras, a topic he admitted he "knew she was highly sensitive about."

On the day the female employee resigned, Hammer told another supervisor "in a serious tone" that "Well, maybe I am in love with her."

Hammer was suspended for one day, with pay, for the incident.

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