Eight correction officers were injured during two separate inmate incidents earlier this month at Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County, according to the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
Union officials said six officers required treatment at outside hospitals following a May 5 incident involving a 51-year-old inmate who allegedly became violent after refusing orders to return to his cell.
According to NYSCOPBA, staff were preparing to escort the inmate to programming when officers discovered the inmate’s cell was not in compliance with facility rules. When ordered back into the cell, the inmate allegedly charged at officers and struck one officer in the mouth.
Officials said officers used body holds to bring the inmate to the ground, but the inmate continued resisting, allegedly placing one officer in a headlock, punching staff members, and attempting to assault others before being restrained with handcuffs and leg restraints.
The injured officers were treated initially at the facility before being transported to outside hospitals for treatment of elbow, shoulder, knee, hip, shin, hand, and facial injuries. Union officials said none of the officers involved returned to duty following the incident.
The inmate is serving a 10-to-12-year sentence following 2018 convictions in New York County for first-degree criminal contempt and attempted first-degree assault.
A second incident occurred on May 2 when officers responded to a disturbance involving an inmate who appeared intoxicated inside a dormitory cube. Officials said the inmate became combative while being transported on a stretcher, kicking and grabbing officers during the struggle.
Two officers were treated at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital for injuries and exposure to an unknown substance, while another officer was hospitalized after experiencing breathing difficulties and lightheadedness during the altercation.
In a statement, NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold criticized the HALT Act and called on state lawmakers to adopt recommendations from the HALT Committee aimed at restoring stricter disciplinary measures in prisons.
Congressman Nick Langworthy also released a statement criticizing Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers over prison safety policies.
“Since that horrible law was passed, corrections officers have been treated worse than the violent criminals they are tasked with supervising. They’ve been stripped of the tools needed to maintain order, forced into dangerous situations, subjected to mandatory overtime, understaffing, and chaos, while the Governor cruelly turned a blind eye and stripped them of their jobs and health insurance when they felt they had no choice but to strike.
“The HALT Act has empowered violent inmates, weakened discipline, and created an environment where assaults on officers and prison staff continue to rise. Even after last year’s prison strike and countless warnings from officers on the front lines, this administration refused to listen. Instead of standing with the men and women risking their lives every day, Kathy Hochul chose to side with far-left activists.
“How many more officers, counselors, nurses, and staff members have to be attacked before Albany admits these dangerous policies are failing? The Governor and legislature should be ashamed of themselves—they own this crisis, and the men and women in law enforcement are paying too steep a price with their safety. The HALT Act should be immediately repealed before another one of our officers are hurt or killed.”
