Clearfield County warden removed
Gallagher in charge during overdoses, escape in last year and a half
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CLEARFIELD -- The Clearfield County commissioners confirmed Friday jail warden David Gallagher was terminated Thursday afternoon.
The county's website lists the warden position as available along with the deputy warden post that appeared after Eric Bush, the former deputy warden, resigned on Oct. 28 after being at the facility for only about a year.
Gallagher failed to attend the last meeting of the county Prison Board in November.
In their statement, Commissioners John Sobel, Dave Glass and Mary Tatum thanked him for his service to the county.
Deputy Warden Susan McQuillen was named acting warden.
The jail has been under scrutiny since last summer when two female inmates overdosed and a few days later another inmate who overdosed on contraband died. The family of the victim has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, warden and several corrections officers, according to previous articles.
In addition, there was an inmate escape in May and one of the correction officers is facing charges for assaulting an inmate.
Gallagher was originally hired as a deputy warden but moved into the warden position after the resignation of David Kessling in September 2022. Kessling was elected a Blair County commissioner in November.
Gallagher's experience reportedly included working in correctional facilities in Virginia and in a federal prison.