A sergeant and two deputies at the Erie County Holding Center have been fired for their

participation in an assault on an inmate in January.

Three other deputies were spared dismissal but were suspended without pay because, when

questioned about the incident, they admitted their role, according to Brian D. Doyle, chief of

administration for the Sheriff&#8217s Office.

The sergeant and two deputies lied to internal affairs investigators, Doyle said.

&#8220The three who didn&#8217t lie admitted what happened, and because of that, they were

able to save their careers. We put a priority on telling the truth,&#8221 Doyle said.

Doyle said he anticipates that the three who were terminated will fight the action in an

arbitration hearing.

The inmate was punched in the ribs but was not injured, Doyle said, adding that the man was

examined both by the Holding Center&#8217s medical staff the day after the attack and again by

private medical personnel when he was released.

Citing privacy laws, Doyle said he could not release the names of any of the disciplined

employees or whether the deputy who punched the inmate was fired or suspended.

One of the still-employed deputies was suspended for 30 days, and the other two for 10 days

each.

When asked whether the Sheriff&#8217s Office was making an example of these Holding Center

workers because of the scrutiny the facility is facing under a U.S. Department of Justice

lawsuit over inmate conditions, Doyle said that was not the case.

Justice Department investigators will visit the Holding Center on March 22 and 23 under a

court order issued Saturday by U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

&#8220This should be a sign to the public that when we have evidence of misconduct, we take

action,&#8221 Doyle said. He noted that the Sheriff&#8217s Office has about 1,000 employees

who come to work every day and perform admirably under very difficult circumstances.

Doyle did not release the name of the former inmate, but Stephen Heilmann recently told The

Buffalo News that he was punched by one of several deputies who huddled around him after a

sergeant accused him of promoting prison contraband and expected him to reveal information on

other inmates who might have contraband.

There has been speculation that the attack actually was motivated by a conflict between

Heilmann and a relative of the sergeant. On that point, Doyle said an investigation to

determine whether factors outside the jail had played a role turned up no such motivation.

&#8220On the surface, there was a legitimate reason why they were having a conversation

with this inmate,&#8221 Doyle said.

The chief added that as far as he knows, the former inmate has not filed a lawsuit against

the county.