Blose appointed as new warden of Clarion County Jail

Clarion County Jail Deputy Warden Dan Blose’s career took a few twists and turns on Friday. Blose entered the Clarion County Jail Inspection Board meeting as the Deputy Warden, was retroactively promoted to interim warden and left the meeting as the new warden.

After an executive session on Feb. 16, the board accepted the resignation of Warden Darren Knox, who was hired in December. Blose had been appointed as interim warden when Jeff Hornberger retired and before Knox was hired.

“Warden Knox was still on his probation,” Clarion County Commissioner and jail board Chairman Braxton White said. “We decided to move in another direction.”

The turnover rate had been higher than normal. At the commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, one new corrections officer was hired and two were reinstated, both effective Feb. 16, and two others resigned. Knox’s resignation was effective Feb. 16. Blose was appointed as interim warden on the same date.

The board went into an executive session prior to the vote and White declined to comment on a personnel issue.

Blose, who has been employed at the jail for 17 years, discussed several goals after his appointment as the new warden on Friday.

“When I started here I was proud to put my uniform on,” he said. “I want to bring that pride back. I want our staff to work together. I want to move in a new direction with help from the commissioners and prison board. We need to upgrade our staff training.”

In his report, Blose said the state inspection has been postponed from March until July due to the “turmoil” at the jail.

Blose said he wants to get through the state inspection and the installation of a new roof.

“We are very happy to have Dan stepping up,” White said.

The board, which went into an executive session for personnel after the meeting was adjourned, will advertise for a candidate to fill the deputy warden position.