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Minn. prison cited $25K fine in connection to CO’s death

The prison was issued a citation in connection to the death of CO Joseph Gomm

By C1 Staff

STILLWATER, Minn. — A Minnesota prison has been fined for the death of a corrections officer.

According to local news station FOX 9, the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a citation to Stillwater prison for $25,000 in connection with corrections officer Joseph Gomm’s death.

Gomm was beaten to death by inmate Edward Johnson with a hammer and homemade knives in July, court documents say. The inmate is facing two first-degree murder charges.

OSHA issued the citation in January “for not ensuring its employees were protected from workplace violence.” The amount is called the fatality penalty and is a “nonnegotiable fine assessed for all citations connected to the death of an employee.”

The Minnesota Department of Corrections contested the citation earlier this month, with negotiations still pending.