From NYSCOPBA:
Cayuga, NY – Two officers were injured when an inmate on his way back from programming to his cell attacked an officer in the stairwell of the medium security correctional facility.
On Saturday, June 1, the inmate was coming from Residential Rehabilitation Unit programming with other inmates and the officer supervising the inmate’s movement followed him in the stairwell from the second floor to the first floor. The inmate stopped on the landing between floors. The officer gave the inmate several orders to continue down to the first floor but he refused. When the officer approached the inmate, the inmate shoved the officer and punched him in the right eye. The officer immediately grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground. A second officer restrained the inmate’s legs while a third officer forced the inmate’s arms behind his back and applied handcuffs. Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.
The inmate was escorted out of the stairwell and placed in a hold pen. When staff put the inmate in the pen, he kicked back and struck one of the officers in the leg. The inmate was forced to the floor by officers and leg restraints were applied. Once in restraints, all force ceased.
The officer who was initially assaulted, sustained pain and swelling to his right eye, neck, and lower back. A second officer sustained pain and swelling to his shoulder subduing the inmate. Both officers were treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty.
The inmate, 28, is serving a 12-year sentence after being convicted in Queens County for Attempted Murder 2nd in 2018.
“At one time, years ago, it used to be that the most violent inmates were incarcerated in maximum security prisons and the majority of assaults on staff occurred in those prisons. Today, that is no longer the reality. With 24 prisons closed since 2011, the inmate population in our medium security correctional facilities are as dangerous as the maximums and as a result, the number of assaults in those facilities have skyrocketed as well. Not far from Cayuga, in the adjoining county three officers had urine, feces and toilet water thrown on them at Five Points, a maximum security prison. At this point, it doesn’t matter what prison you are assigned to, you are a target of inmate violence regardless and that is a result of ridiculous criminal justice policies instituted by progressive legislators in Albany. Now with up to five more prisons to be closed by the State, it is only going to make matters worse as inmates are crowded into the remaining prisons. The safety and well-being of our members certainly isn’t a priority of our elected officials!”-stated Kenny Gold, Western Region Vice President.
