By Diane Pineiro-Zucker
Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.
SHAWANGUNK, N.Y. — The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) is investigating a hazardous materials incident involving an inmate and two correction officers at the Wallkill Correctional Facility, the department said.
At about 11:25 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, staff at the medium security men’s prison found an inmate lying on a bathroom floor “unresponsive but breathing,” according to a press release.
As additional staff arrived, the inmate became responsive and was moved to the Shawangunk Correctional Facility’s medical unit in Wallkill for observation, officials said.
Two responding correction officers became ill and were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The dorm was evacuated, and a local HAZMAT team responded, the department said.
An investigation is underway, authorities said.
“The health and safety of incarcerated individuals and staff remains a top priority. DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello recently issued a bulletin and memos to both staff and the incarcerated population outlining the measures being taken to combat this crisis,” according to a statement issued Wednesday evening. “Additionally, the Department has proactively reissued safety policies and procedures to staff, reinforcing operational protocols and preparedness measures.”
Martuscello’s Sept. 24 memo addressed to the “incarcerated population” warned of “the extreme dangers associated with various contraband drugs that we have encountered within our correctional facilities.
“Despite the aggressive steps we have taken in an attempt to interdict dangerous contraband drugs from coming into our facilities, we have continued to confiscate illicit drugs, have found several incarcerated individuals unresponsive and requiring trips to an outside hospital, have seen an increase in deaths associated with drug overdose, and have seen an increase in staff exposures.”
Martuscello said he was “unapologetic in my aggressive approach to drug interdiction to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of every employee, incarcerated individual, and visitor” and said DOCCS “will continue to explore additional ways to augment the various measures that we have launched to combat this crisis.”
The Commissioner said, all printed materials and “tobacco products” received at state prisons would be held for up to six days for “additional screening,” and would “work with relevant District Attorneys to prosecute individuals found in possession of illicit drugs and substances.”
He continued, “As the Commissioner, it is my responsibility to take all reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of staff, incarcerated people, and visitors. If this issue continues to persist, we will explore eliminating items from the package room program, including the ability to receive tobacco products and make such items only available through the commissary.”
A memo to package room staff dated a day earlier included similar language.
The condition of the inmate and staff members affected was not immediately available.
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