Union says 7 Connecticut correctional officers injured on Labor Day

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Seven Connecticut Department of Correction officers were reported to have received outside medical care after incidents across multiple correctional institutions on Labor Day, according to the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

“Our officers faced chaos and violence behind prison walls,” the union released in a statement.

The union alleges that an officer suffered a head injury after an inmate charged at them in the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield around 4 p.m. As a result of this incident, the union claims that two officers had to be transported to an outside medical facility for evaluation and treatment of physical injuries.

A third officer sought outside medical assistance for a mental health evaluation due to stress and trauma caused by responding to the incident, according to AFSCME.

According to AFSCME, the Department of Corrections Critical Incident Stress Response Team (CISRT) responded to MacDougall-Walker after the incident.

In East Lyme at the York Correctional Institution, AFSCME said that an officer sustained a severe injury to his leg and ankle while trying to separate and restrain inmates around 2 p.m. According to the union, the hospital confirmed a fractured tibia, fibula and ankle.

At Cheshire Correctional Institution, around 8:30 p.m., four officers were said to have sustained injuries after trying to separate and restrain an inmate who was choking another. According to AFSCME, one officer suffered a concussion and other officers sustained injuries to the neck, back and knees. Three had to seek outside medical treatment.

AFSCME alleges that the rise in violence may be caused by an influx of contraband and short staffing.

“The number of staff assaults in our prisons has doubled in the past six years, even though the inmate population has dropped by 3,000, and the state has closed two prisons,” the AFSCME stated in a press release.

The Connecticut Department of Correction released the following statements:

“The leadership of the Department of Correction recognizes the significant sacrifices the agency’s dedicated professionals make every day to ensure the safety of their fellow staff members, as well as the incarcerated population.

These incidents emphasize the inherent potential for danger all correctional staff face on a daily basis.

It cannot be overstated that the safety and security of the staff and the incarcerated population is the DOC’s top priority.

The administration continually reviews and revises its policies and procedures in order to improve the safety level and working conditions for its dedicated staff.  It has also worked to procure equipment that will help to significantly reduce the amount of contraband entering the facilities.

Lastly, the agency will pursue charges – to the fullest extent possible – against anyone guilty of assaulting a correctional professional.”