By Lisa Demer
ADN
Last Oct. 24, a few hours into his shift at Alaska’s only maximum security prison, correctional officer Kim Spalding ordered inmates under his watch into lockdown. A ruckus had erupted on another unit. He needed to assert control. His bunch had been unruly just the day before.
But within the Spring Creek Correctional Center housing mod where Spalding was the lone officer managing up to 64 prisoners, some of the inmates rebelled.
Alaska State Troopers reported at the time that Spalding was attacked first by one inmate, then two more. He ended up cut, bruised and battered. He was treated in the hospital as were two of the inmates.
The terse trooper report from last year didn’t mention how Spalding fended off three attackers. The officer himself is now revealing what happened: He stabbed his attackers with a pocketknife he had sneaked in to protect himself.
Having the knife violated Corrections Department policy, which led to his firing, just two days shy of the 20 years of public service needed for a full pension, he said. With the help of his union, he’s fighting the termination. The union contends that systemwide staffing issues are compromising the safety of Alaska’s prisons.
Full story: Former prison guard describes fending off attack with knife