Cumberland Times-News
CRESAPTOWN — In the wake of a spike of assaults of correctional officers by inmates over the past two weeks, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees called on Secretary Gary Maynard of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services on Wednesday to take immediate steps to improve safety at one Western Maryland prison.
A correctional officer at the North Branch Correctional Institution was taken to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center after he was allegedly assaulted by two inmates Tuesday.
The officer was treated for apparently minor injuries after being taken to the hospital in a prison van, according to Mark Vernarelli, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The incident reportedly occurred in a dining room and no weapons were involved.
“I have reached out to Secretary Maynard personally to demand that the department stop business as usual and take concrete steps to protect the safety of the hard-working correctional officers who work in our state’s prisons,” said AFSCME Maryland President Patrick Moran.
“Officers at NBCI were told in roll call that intelligence officers intercepted an inmate phone call tipping them off that the latest assaults were looming. They knew it was going to happen. Why was the facility not put on lock down? What is the department’s plan to stop this spike in gang violence against correctional officers immediately? We want answers and we want action,” Moran said.
Full story: Union wants changes after rash of prison guard attacks