STORMVILLE – Tuesday’s
attacks and injuries to five state corrections officers by an inmate at
Green Haven Correctional Facility on Tuesday are “another example
of how dangerous the environment can be inside our prisons,” said
Michael Mazzella, Mid-Hudson vice president of New York State Police and
Corrections Officers Benevolent Association.
He said on Thursday that “More officers are being injured because
of the lack of disciplinary measures the department can apply to violent
inmates.” As that occurs, Mazzella said officers “have become
hesitant to protect themselves because of the department’s policies
on using force to control a violent and dangerous inmate.”
He said he hopes the Dutchess County District Attorney will hold the inmate
accountable for his criminal actions.
The prisoner repeatedly punched a female officer in the face, knocking
her unconscious, before he fought with four other officers, one of who
sprayed him with pepper spray, subduing him.
The inmate was convicted in Westchester County in 2009 for felony criminal
possession of a controlled substance and escape.
