Officer attacked by inmate at Greene Correctional Facility

COXSACKIE – A corrections officer at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie was injured on September 30 when he tried to break up a fight between three inmates fighting in the housing unit dormitory area.
The incident was reported by the union representing the officer, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
When the officer observed the fighting, he ordered the prisoners to stop, but was ignored. One of the inmates was swinging a weighted cloth weapon later identified as two padlocks in a sock.
The officer activated his personal alarm and then administered pepper spray, which did not achieve the desired effect. He administered a second application causing the inmate to drop the weapon and become compliant, but another inmate then punched the officer in the back of the head, picked up the weapon and began swinging it at an inmate.
The union report said the officer was struck on the elbow and collarbone by the weapon. He was able to administer two more applications of pepper spray to control the situation.
The response team arrived and the inmates became compliant.
The injured officer was treated by the prison medical staff and remained on duty.