Stillwater Prison Warden Fired for Sexual Harassment, Abuse

Former Stillwater prison warden Steve Hammer was suspended in September and later fired from his position in October for allegedly violating five department policies, including polices regarding discrimination and sexual harassment. According to government documents, investigators believe Hammer engaged in abusive ways toward employees and acted unprofessionally as warden by releasing confidential information about staff and offenders.

Investigators also alleged Hammer engaged in inappropriate behavior and used Minnesota Department of Corrections email for sexually explicit communications.

KSTP reported that seven of Hammer’s emails, sent to both men and women, contained sexually explicit language. The emails included vulgar discussions of sex, genitals, and references to nude photos.

One employee remembers Hammer showing him a photo of a woman and saying "I would bet you would like those long legs wrapped around you."

Another employee said Hammer once looked up and down at a female intern and commented on her looks. Hammer denied those claims.

In April, Hammer exchanged emails with a non-employee with a female name, the Pioneer Press reported.

"You only want me when you are taken," the woman wrote.

"What do you think you want from me right now? Just friendship and some naked pics? Lol!"

"Friendship and naked pics is a good start," Hammer said.

The woman replied saying Hammer was "overstepping the friendship boundaries."

In May, Hammer exchanged emails with a former corrections officer exchanged about Hammer's move to Stillwater. “I’m not happy I hate that place," Hammer said.

"Make me your secretary. Lol," the woman replied.

"Hmmmm secretary? I’m thinking nasty thoughts," Hammer replied.

History of abuse

Memos show that Hammer has a history of poor behavior while working for the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

The Star Tribune reported that Stillwater prison Warden Hammer was disciplined twice for inappropriate conduct with staff earlier in his career before he was fired.

Hammer oversaw 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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