VIDALIA — Two officers at Concordia Correctional Center have been relieved of duty and charged with malfeasance in office.

Cedric Short, 27, 402 Myrtle St., Vidalia, and Sammie L. Lewis, 59, 305 Seventh St., Ferriday, were both booked Monday at the Concordia Parish Jail on a charge of malfeasance in office.

Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Vernon Stevens said the officers were charged after they did not follow proper protocol at the prison, characterizing the charges as “dereliction of duty.”

“They were charged with public safety and the safety of inmates, and some of their actions were not appropriate with what they should be doing,” Stevens said.

After they were charged, the men were released on a promise to appear, but were also given $1,000 bonds.