By Patrick Buchnowski
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.
SOMERSET, Pa. — The superintendent of SCI-Somerset is being transferred to another state prison as part of a multi-facility shakeup in the wake of the recent beating death of a corrections officer.
State Department of Corrections said Melissa Hainsworth is moving to SCI-Laurel Highlands to become superintendent.
Eric Tice, SCI-Smithfield superintendent, will take over at SCI-Somerset.
Jamey Luther, superintendent of SCI-Laurel Highlands, will take over at SCI-Smithfield.
Changes are effective July 30.
DOC Secretary John Wetzel said the changes are the result of the agency’s need to respond to the long-term effects of the fatal beating of Somerset Corrections Sgt. Mark Baserman by an inmate in February.
SCI-Somerset has seen several other attacks on corrections officers in recent months.
“What we’ve learned from previous major incidents is that a facility doesn’t really begin to fully heal until there is a change in leadership,” Wetzel said. “We have complete faith in these leaders and are making these moves in order to allow SCI-Somerset to continue the healing process.”
State Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Fayette, who also represents Somerset County, issued a statement endorsing the changes but said more needed to be done.
“I hope this is the first in several steps aimed at making SCI-Somerset and all of our correctional facilities a safe place for our corrections officers to work,” he said. “This cannot be just a cosmetic change but part of a systemic change in how we manage our corrections institutions.”
Baserman was punched and kicked to death Feb. 15 at SCI-Somerset. Inmate Paul Kendrick, 22, of Pittsburgh, was charged with his murder.
Other attacks on officers at SCI-Somerset include:
• Khayree Mahleek Murray, 28, was arraigned on June 26 accused of throwing feces and urine at a corrections officer who was collecting his food tray. Murray was charged with aggravated assault by a prison stemming from the Feb. 10 assault.
• Canie Griffith, 30, allegedly attacked a corrections officer on May 18. Griffith allegedly struck the officer three times with a Master Lock padlock sending the officer to the hospital with a brain bleed. Griffith was charged with aggravated assault by a prisoner.
• On Dec. 3, a corrections officer was attacked by a razor blade-wielding inmate who was having treatment at Somerset Hospital. William Amos Cramer, 26, was charged with attempted homicide, assault by a prisoner, assault by a life prisoner, aggravated assault and simple assault.
©2018 The Tribune-Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.)