WHITE PLAINS – A safety and security officer was injured last Tuesday afternoon when he entered a holding cell at the Westchester County Courthouse to restrain a sex offender and was assaulted by the man.
The New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association
said the officer was head butted and punched several times in the face.
The sex offender, who is civilly confined and a resident of a state psychiatric center, was brought to the courthouse earlier in the day for a court appearance.
The police union said the officer entered the holding cell alone to handcuff the patients who had started to act out. When he approached the man, he was suddenly head butted and as the officer attempted to get control of the man, he was punched in the face several times.
Department of Corrections officers, who were in the courthouse, helped get control of the resident and into restraints.
The security officer sustained a strained shoulder, injured lower back and soreness and swelling to his jaw. He was treated and released at a local hospital.
The incident was reported to the State Police.
“Once again, we are dealing with a serious incident involving one of our members being attacked,” said John Harmon, law enforcement vice president for the police union. “What will it take for the Office of Mental Health to make reforms to safeguard our members?”
