By Rick Sobey, Flint McColgan
Boston Herald
BOSTON — One of the prison guards who was injured during the “vicious attack” at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center was reportedly stabbed 12 times, according to the correction officers’ union, which continues to push for safety measures and to “shake this place down.”
That officer was in serious but stable condition a day after the inmate assault at the Massachusetts maximum security prison, the head of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union said on Thursday.
The guard suffered a punctured lung, and was being treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Four of the five injured officers have been released from the hospital, according to the Department of Correction.
The union has been warning about an uptick in weapons in prisons, and saw this “vicious attack” coming, said union president Dennis Martin.
“This has been a systemic problem with this institution right here, and the prisons across this Commonwealth. They are unsafe,” he said during a press conference outside the prison.
“These are unfortunate events,” Martin added. “We’ve been warning them (DOC) that this is going to continue to happen until they do something drastic… It’s a sad time right now.”
At around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, DOC received a report of multiple correction officers being injured inside the maximum-security Souza Baranowski Correctional Center.
How can a single corrections officer overcome multiple attackers? The video below discusses 12 recommendations COs can take in the event of an attack.
Two officers had been doing their hourly rounds when they were reportedly attacked from behind by inmates. One of the guards was stabbed 12 times, and the other guard was stabbed in the back and the head, according to the union.
In all, five officers were injured: two suffering from stab wounds and three more injured while responding to the fracas.
“This wasn’t an isolated attack here. This was an attempted murder on a correction officer,” Martin said, later adding, “Somebody getting stabbed 12 times: That’s not just sending a warning, that’s to kill somebody… He was lucky. He was fortunate that he survived this attack.”
More than 70 weapons have been recovered by officers in the last three months, and the union claims that the inmates are making weapons from the tablets they receive in prison.
There’s a metal strip inside the tablets, and the inmates apparently smash the tablets to create weapons out of them.
The union is calling for a comprehensive search of the prison to find any weapons and drugs.
“Shake this place down,” Martin said, adding, “It’s a good cleanse to keep everybody safe.”
“We’re hoping that this is the last straw here, that they act and come forward with a comprehensive plan to make this prison safe,” he said.
Shawn Jenkins, the interim commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, said in a statement that he is “deeply concerned about the incident.”
“Our correction officers perform an essential and difficult job. Their safety is our top priority,” he wrote in the statement. “My thoughts are with the officers and their families at this time and the Department offers our full support to the officers as they recover from their injuries.
“Violence against DOC staff is unacceptable, and we will take the steps necessary to ensure those responsible are held accountable under the law. Our Department will also conduct a thorough security assessment and review of protocols to ensure the safety and security of all who work and live at our facilities,” he added.
The DOC is responding with “a comprehensive investigation” alongside the Worcester County District Attorney’s office, the department said, as well as “a full security assessment.” The prisoners they say were involved have been transferred to other prisons.
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