Prison official pays price for ordering free haircut

A little trim off the top turned into a big problem for a high-ranking prison official.

Steven Silva, deputy superintendent at MCI-Cedar Junction, was home on March 19 on a day off when he called the prison and instructed a subordinate to relieve a lieutenant from his post so the lieutenant could drive to Silva's house and give him a haircut, according to a staff member in the state Department of Correction.

Silva got the haircut, but was demoted, said the staff member, who had direct knowledge of the decision.

Justin Latini, a Department of Correction spokesman, said Robert Soares was appointed as deputy superintendent at the prison in Walpole, effective yesterday, but Latini declined to comment about Silva.

A home phone number for Silva could not be found, and he did not return a message left for him at the prison. He was demoted to sergeant, said the staff member, who asked not to be identified because of a Correction Department policy that prohibits disclosures about disciplining of employees.

The captain who took Silva's call and the lieutenant who gave Silva a haircut were removed from their positions, with pay, pending further investigation, said the staff member, who declined to disclose their names.

Silva's demotion was ordered by Commissioner Kathleen M. Dennehy, the staff member said. When named head of the Correction Department last month, Dennehy said she would improve the department's ethical standards.

SEAN P. MURPHY