NEWS

November 4, 2007
Warden's birthday photos trigger apology

The Newton official, who turned 50, sees the 'insensitivity,' the state says; he's shown in a wheelchair and holding gags such as adult diapers.

Iowa prison officials are apologizing after Newton's prison warden was photographed at his 50th birthday party using a wheelchair and a walker while holding gag gifts that made fun of older people.

Warden Terry Mapes of the Newton Correctional Facility is an able-bodied person who doesn't require handicapped equipment. But his staff greeted him with a wheelchair in the prison's parking lot when he arrived at work July 19, two days after his 50th birthday, confirmed Iowa prison spokesman Fred Scaletta.

The party continued inside the prison's offices, where Mapes donned a visor that read "Old Fart" and was photographed holding gifts that included adult diapers, a package of laxatives and a book titled "Sex After 50."

One of the photographs shows Mapes using a walker. A sign on Mapes' office door read "Your New Favorite Games," with a listing that included "Spin the bottle of Mylanta," "Pin the toupee on the Geezer" and "Simon Says Something Incoherent."

Scaletta declined last week to say if any prison employees were disciplined or reprimanded. He said Deputy Iowa Corrections Director Dan Craig has discussed the incident with Mapes and Newton Deputy Warden Jill Dursky.

"It is the policy of the Department of Corrections to maintain and enforce high levels of professional conduct. The perception and judgment displayed during recognition of Warden Mapes' last birthday activities were beyond the level of acceptable standards," Scaletta said in a statement.

"Warden Mapes recognizes the insensitivity of some of these activities that occurred and accepts full responsibility. Furthermore, Warden Mapes apologizes to anyone who may have been offended by these unintended actions," Scaletta said.

Mapes was not available for comment Friday, an assistant said.

John McCalley, director of the Iowa Department of Elder Affairs, said there is always room for good fun at birthday celebrations for older people, but the activities at Mapes' party were improper and point to a need for sensitivity training on aging and disability issues in workplaces.

"Actions like this unfortunately reflect poorly on the values of people who are performing them," McCalley said. "What this points out is that there are negative connotations and labels to aging and disability in society, and an incident like this just reinforces some of those negative labels."

Ann Black, a spokeswoman for AARP Iowa, said, "In general, any action that demeans or trivializes the afflictions of growing older is really offensive and inappropriate."

The warden's birthday party photos were posted on a computer system used by Newton prison employees, Scaletta said. The photos were removed about a week later when Mapes became aware of the photos, he said.

Scaletta said Mapes told him the birthday observance lasted about 10 minutes, although prison staffers had birthday cake at lunch and during work breaks that day.

Copies of Mapes' birthday party photos were mailed anonymously to The Des Moines Register.

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