GOUVERNEUR, NY – The New York State Correctional Officers and Benevolent Association, Inc., released the following statement on Sept. 21, 2021:
“Three officers were injured and needed outside medical care at a local hospital after an inmate attempted to get out of his handcuffs and punched and attacked staff at the medium security facility.
The attack, which followed several inmate on inmate fights, stabbings, and make shift weapons and drugs recovered at the facility last month.
On Friday, September 3, a sergeant and officer were escorting the 25 year old inmate at the facility. The inmate, who was in restraints during the escort, was observed attempting to slip one of his hands out of the handcuffs. The officer immediately grabbed him. The inmate was able to slip one arm free and struck the officer in the chest and chin. Additional staff responded to the attack and grabbed the inmate in body holds and forced him to the ground. On the ground, the inmate remained combative and continued to attack staff. OC Spray was administered with no immediate effect. After a brief struggle, staff were able to get the inmate under control and back into restraints.
The inmate was removed from the area and placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges. He is serving a five year sentence after being convicted in Westchester County in 2019 on Assault second-degree charges.
Three officers were injured in the incident. One officer sustained right knee, neck and arm pain. A second officer sustained thigh pain and reddened eyes. A third officer sustained a bicep injury.
All three officers were treated at an outside hospital and released.
The staff assault follows several inmate fights in the month of August in which numerous inmates sustained lacerations and puncture wounds from make shift weapons. An ice pick type weapon, sharpened metal can lid and sharpened ceramic tile were recovered by staff after separate inmate on inmate attacks occurred at the facility. One inmate sustained a puncture wound to his hand and another sustained several lacerations to his head, face and neck area after being attacked in his cube in the dorm.
Another fight involved three inmates who struck each other with an IPAD, broom handle and mop handle. After the fight was contained by staff, two inmates were found with metal padlocks hidden in their pants.
Staff also recovered Suboxone strips that were hidden in inmate mail at the facility.
“This is a broken record that must be fixed. Attacks on staff continue at an alarming rate and officers are getting injured every day. This latest attack at Gouverneur, is yet another example of a broken disciplinary system that has no teeth to deter attacks from occurring. The stabbings, inmate fights, and drugs and weapons recovered, are just a reminder of how dangerous the prisons are for staff. ” – stated Bryan Hluska , Central Region Vice President.”