COLUMBUS, Ohio — An audit of Ross Correctional Institution (RCI) concludes the Christmas Day killing of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing was the result of one inmate’s violent actions — not a failure of policy or staffing.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) released the findings of the 2024 Internal Management Audit and American Correctional Association Reaccreditation Audit in late September. The report states that staffing, inmate classification, and equipment were all in compliance on Dec. 25, 2024, when inmate Rashawn Cannon fatally attacked Lansing in a prison yard guard shack, WBNS reports.
“Inmate Cannon was properly classified as security level 3 … While en route to food service, Cannon made the decision to veer off the designated path,” the report noted. It ultimately concluded that Lansing’s death was “the result of inmate Cannon’s actions, and not a lapse in policy compliance.”
Audit findings
- Staffing levels: All 59 security posts were filled that day, with 51 officers on shift and eight, including Lansing, volunteering for overtime. Four supervisors, one captain and three lieutenants supported the posts.
- Guard shack: The structure where Lansing was stationed had long been staffed as a single-officer post. While auditors deemed this compliant, staff requested changes. The shack has since been removed, with a larger replacement to be installed.
- Alarms: Lansing’s personal alarm device was working properly at the time of the attack.
- Inmate classification: Cannon was deemed appropriately placed at RCI as a level three inmate. After the attack, he was transferred to higher-security custody.
Changes since the attack
Following Lansing’s death, RCI added eight correction officer positions, as well as two lieutenant and three shift sergeant roles, WBNS reports. ODRC Director Annette Chambers-Smith said more officers are now assigned to the prison’s center court and yard during inmate movement.
TASERS have also been added at RCI and other prisons, and staff are receiving expanded defense training.
Family concerns
Despite the audit’s findings, Lansing’s family has questioned whether policy changes alone are enough. They have called for stronger security measures at Ohio prisons, including greater officer protection during inmate movement and at single-officer posts, according to WBNS.
“As with any tragic event within a correctional institution, this horrendous attack and murder necessitated a deep dive into operations at RCI,” the audit summary stated. “The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is committed to continuously reviewing and improving operations to help prevent such a tragic event from ever occurring again.”
