STORMVILLE – Tuesday’s
attacks and injuries to five state corrections officers by an inmate at
Green Haven Correctional Facility are “another example of how dangerous
the environment can be inside our prisons,” said Michael Mazzella,
Mid-Hudson vice president of the 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.
