Free Kevin Walsh
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Kevin Walsh 29 December 2005 Dear Ganesh, Thank you for writing. I have thus far only skimmed over the news you sent briefly, but I did read your personal communications and shall answer your inquiries. I read your answer to the stamp inquiry to my cellmate, and he seemed satisfied by your answer. I thought it quite strange that you were able to send letters by taping coins to your letters. I remember a previous article in your newsletter about dead people receiving photo radar traffic citations. This actually happened to my family! In December 2000 my father died of lung cancer. My mother continued to drive his car without having changed the title to his name only. A few months later a photo radar citation arrived in the mail addressed to my father. I did not open it but wrote on the envelope, “Deceased, return to sender” and put it in a mailbox. We never received anything else about it [I think it was from the Scottsdale Police], so I don’t know what happened. I suspect when they got the envelope back they dropped the matter. Then again maybe they suspended my father’s driver’s license. If they did, I’m sure he won’t mind. It is interesting that around here when I say, "Happy Solstice!" a lot of the inmates know what I am talking about. This is because some of the Aryan Brotherhood members are pagans. One fellow who worships Oden told me he knows of the Solstice as "Yule." We spent Christmas locked down, not because of anything the inmates did, but because not enough guards showed up for work to handle security. Christmas dinner was served in our cells and consisted of roast beef, mashed potatoes, apple pie, stuffing, broccoli, and a few other things. There were some complaints that the roast beef was undercooked. Mine was rare but edible. I personally prefer my beef somewhat well done. We have not been on lockdown much lately, but security measures have increased. We are no longer allowed to go to work, education, programs, medical, etc. without a guard to escort us. At work in the education complex, I now need a pass to leave the room to get a drink of water or go to the bathroom. We are allowed to take showers (wednesdays, fridays and sundays for everyone, and every day for those who have jobs), but we are now locked out of our cells when we take showers and must wait for guards to let us back in when we finish. Having a beard or not shaving is punishable for those who don't have shaving waivers. They can deny you visitation, fire you from your job, and not let you into the dining hall for it. I think if you refuse long enough they might send you to the hole for it. I was told that the big lockdown (3 to 13 December) affected every yard at the Tucson prison. The more recent lockdowns were probably for the Rincon Unit only. We are allowed to have razors in our cells. Disposable razors are ordered from commissary for 15 cents (single blade) or 20 cents (double blade) each. So we could shave during lockdown. For some reason we were not allowed to have razors in our cells in the Maricopa County Jail. I don't know why DOC has a different policy. Interesting that the New Times might want to do a story on me. I will be glad to be interviewed by them once I get out (20 January). My boss, Mr. Holler, says the Secret Service still wants to talk to me. You ask what if a 150-foot steel cable were attached to a weather balloon. I suspect that in that case the weather balloon would never get off the ground for the weight of the cable, but if it were a very thin cable, it might. I hope all is well with you and wish you a happy New Year. I will be a free man in a few weeks, and I would like to see you in person when I get out. Thank you for all your tremendous support during my incarceration. You have been a good friend to me. Yours, Kevin
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