Several officers attacked, injured at Sullivan Correctional Facility

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FALLSBURG – Three more attacks occurred last week at Sullivan Correction Facility injuring 10 officers and adding to the number of assaults on staff in 2021, the New York State Corrections Officers PBA said. The union represents officers at state prisons.

As the state announced six more prison closures slated for the spring of 2022, there is no end in sight to violent assaults on staff that are occurring at a record pace, nor is the violence being adequately addressed by DOCCS, said Chris Moreau, the union’s regional vice president.

On Tuesday, November 2, two officers were injured at the medium security correctional facility after an inmate approached one officer from behind and struck him several times in the head.  As the attacked occurred, the officer fell forward.  A second officer came to assist and administered OC Spray, which had no effect.  Both officers grabbed the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground.

On the ground and still combative, the inmate struck both officers several times in the head.  The officers were eventually able to apply handcuffs. Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.

The inmate was removed from the housing unit and placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges.

The two officers were transported to Garnett Health Medical Center for treatment.  One officer had head and facial swelling and knee and shoulder pain.  The second officer sustained facial pain and loss of motion to his knee. Both officers were treated and released and did not return to duty.

On Thursday, November 4, an officer observed an inmate vomiting and acting incoherently.  He called for a medical response and ordered the inmate to submit to a pat frisk.  The inmate lost his balance and was grabbed by officer preventing him from falling to the floor.  When the officer grabbed him, the inmate struck the officer in the face with a fist.  A response was called and multiple staff responded to the incident.  The inmate was placed in a body hold and forced to the ground where he continued to be violent and combative.  OC Spray was administered twice to the inmate with no effect.

The inmate continued to kick and punch staff on ground.  Staff needed to apply restraints to his legs and handcuffs to his wrists before he became compliant.  Once in restraints, the inmate was removed and placed in Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges.

He is serving a 20 year to life sentence after being convicted of murder in Monroe County in 2013.

Six officers and a sergeant were injured in the attack.  They were all transported to Garnett Health Medical Center for a variety of injuries.  They were all treated and released.

The third attack occurred on Saturday, November 6, at the hands of an inmate serving 87 years to life for murder, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The officer ordered the inmate to submit to a routine pat frisk in the corridor of one of the facility complexes.  The inmate refused and struck the officer’s arms away from him.  The officer grabbed the inmate in a body hold and both men fell through a set of doors in the complex.  During the struggle, another inmate came up from behind the officer and grabbed him around the neck, attempting to pull him away from the other inmate.  The officer broke free and with the assistance of another officer forced the inmate up against the wall and applied handcuffs.  Once in handcuffs, the inmate became compliant.

The inmate, 50, was removed from the building and placed in a Special Housing Unit.   He was convicted in 2002 in New York County for the shooting deaths of three individuals in a Manhattan apartment.   Two other victims were shot but survived.

The inmate who interfered with the officer performing his duties, ran into a conference room during the attack.  Staff located him and placed him in restraints and placed him in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges.

The injured officer was taken to Garnett Health Medical Center for treatment of pain and swelling behind his ear and back pain.

“As the state arbitrarily announced the closure of six more prisons, they continue to ignore the violent attacks against staff, despite an inmate population that continues to decrease. They simply have turned a blind eye to the fact that violence has increased over the last five years and they have taken no significant action to address the safety of staff.  That is simply unacceptable!” said Moreau. “No level of savings should take precedent over the safety of the men and women who protect our communities.  If this level of violence existed in any community, regardless of the size, the residents and taxpayers would be demanding that their elected officials immediately address it or they would call for new leadership.  Why should this be any different?”




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