Prison Guards Fired in Connection with Officer's Death Ordered Reinstated

Accused of falsifying documents and lying to investigators

MONROE, Wash. -- An arbitrator has ordered the state Department of Corrections to reverse the firings of three Monroe Correctional Complex officers after the 2011 death of officer Jayme Biendl.

The department must offer the officers their jobs back, as well as reverse the demotion of a sergeant, officials said. The individual employees then will decide if they want to return to their former jobs. They will receive back pay either way.

The ruling is final and binding, a union spokeswoman said.

Biendl was slain at her post in the prison chapel. At the time, prison officials accused several officers of misconduct, dereliction of duty and of purposely misleading investigators after the death. The state also accused the officers of dishonesty.