Eight corrections officers were injured in two separate incidents at Auburn Correctional Facility.
According to the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolence Association, the union representing corrections officers, both incidents occurred on Sunday.
The first attack happened when an inmate became belligerent after being ordered to submit to a contraband search during his morning meal in the mess hall. When an officer placed him in a body hold, the inmate punched the officer in the face. Four officers came to the first’s aid and were able to force the inmate on the ground and handcuff him before taking him to a special housing unit.
The first officer was taken to Auburn Community for a fractured orbital bone. The other four were treated at the prison for minor injuries and remained on duty.
The second incident happened in the afternoon when a disruptive inmate was being taken from the mess hall to a holding cell. Once in the cell, his handcuffs were removed. It is then that he struck the officer who escorted him in the jaw. A fight ensued with two officers helping to subdue him. After placing the inmate in handcuffs, he was placed in a special holding unit.
All three staff were treated at the scene and remained on duty.
Kenny Gold, president of NYSCOPBA’s western region, criticized state lawmakers for failing to take action to combat prison assaults.
“There is no end in sight to the violence and it will continue with the inaction of the state Legislature to adequately address the violence as they are more worried about the individuals that don’t pay taxes rather than the taxpayers that serve their communities,” Gold said.
