By C1 Staff
WILMINGTON, Del. — Corrections officials say many prison staff members have resigned or announced their resignation at Vaughn Correctional Center since a Feb. 1 inmate uprising killed a CO.
DOC spokeswoman Jayme Gravell told Delaware Online that eight officers have quit, three of which left immediately. Six have filed paperwork for early retirement. Gravell said two additional officers in the state’s DOC announced their retirement as well. Additionally, teacher, employed by the Department of Education, who taught prisoners at Vaughn Correctional Center is retiring.
“We don’t have enough staff and people don’t feel safe coming to work,” Geoff Klopp, president of the Delaware corrections officer union, said.
Gravell told the publication the DOC can fill the openings with the incoming class of 39 rookies. She said they’ll have up to 40 more officers in March.
Klopp argued the strategy is faulty because 57 percent of rookies quit within three years. He said the best way to retain officers is to raise their salaries.
According to the publication, 405 total assaults or fights occurred at the state’s five correctional facilities in 2016.