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5 things to know about fallen corrections officer Steven Floyd

Here are five things to know about the fallen hero

By C1 Staff

An inmate uprising at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Delaware on Wednesday resulted in a nearly 24-hour standoff. Armed with makeshift weapons, the inmates took three corrections officers and a counselor hostage. After police used a backhoe to smash through a barricade the inmates created, they discovered one corrections officer, 47-year-old Sgt. Steven Floyd, had been killed. Here are five things to know about the fallen hero.

1. Floyd warned his colleagues of the takeover and saved lives.

In the initial takeover of the facility, the inmates faked a fight to lure corrections officers to them. According to the News Journal, as Floyd called a Code Three for assistance, the inmates ceased fighting and stuffed the officer into a closet. As officers responded to the scene, Floyd warned them it was a trap and told them to leave the facility. Correction Officers Association of Delaware President Geoff Klopp said Floyd’s actions saved lives.

The hostages were brutally beaten by the inmates, suffering broken bones and other injuries.

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2. Floyd is the first CO line-of-duty death in Delaware’s history.

Floyd’s on-duty death is the first in the state’s history. He was 16-year DOC veteran.

“I’m praying hard for the fallen officer’s family. This serves as a tragic reminder that members of law enforcement risk their lives every day on behalf of the people of Delaware,” Delaware Gov. John Carney said.

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3. Floyd was considered an outstanding officer by many.

The officer earned the rank of sergeant in his first two years of service. He was honored with the Warden’s Award for Outstanding Performance last year. In 2004 and 2005, he had perfect attendance at the facility, where he spent his entire career.

Department of Correction Community Relations Chief Jayme Gravell said Floyd “remained steadfast and never wavered in his duties as a sworn law enforcement Officer.”

Klopp described Floyd as a “father, grandfather, loving husband who worked overtime 3-4 times a week” to take care of his family.

“Sgt. Floyd helped hundreds of officers with grievances and any other issues that they had,” Klopp said. “He was a champion, and he would fight for what was right, no matter the cost.”

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4. Floyd’s union says his death was preventable.

The Correctional Officers Association of Delaware cited staffing issues, which are affecting prisons across the country, as directly linked to Floyd’s death.

“This has absolutely been probably the hardest day in my life,” Klopp said. “Sgt. Floyd’s death is due directly to staffing issues that have been going on with the Department of Correction though the Jack Markell administration for the last eight years.”

Klopp also said the inmates conducted dry runs at the facility leading up to the attack, and that they outnumber corrections officers 50 to 1.

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5. The perpetrator is not currently known.

Officials are currently investigating the killing, and say 120 inmates are suspects.

“The best way we can honor Sgt. Steven Floyd is to do this work diligently, together, and expeditiously. We will leave no stone unturned,” Carney said. “We will bring every resource that we have to sort out this issue and this problem to make sure that correctional facilities are secure and that the employees who work there are safe, recognizing that this is very dangerous work.”

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A GoFundMe has been set up for fallen Sgt. Steven Floyd and other corrections staff who were injured during the hostage standoff.

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