Dear COBA Member,

Yesterday, COBA President Pete Lilli, 2nd VP Andrew James and Secretary Anthony Lebron stood along with Westchester Corrections SOA, Westchester COBA and with Assemblyman Matt Slater in support of our Brother and Sister Officers in the NYS Department of Corrections. These Officers are NOT striking for money, but because NYS has made these facilities unsafe for Correction Officers, Civilians and all Inmates housed inside them. As we all know firsthand, the HALT Act has significantly restricted our ability to use Administrative Segregation.

This tool was used to segregate violent Inmates from the rest of the law-abiding inmate population. Ever since the HALT Act was passed, assaults on Officers, Civilians and Inmates have skyrocketed throughout the state and local facilities.

We spent the day talking with both active and retired Officers, who were standing outside the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, hearing their stories and looking at the pain in their faces, which was truly shocking.

Hearing first hand from an Officer that while doing a routine patrol, an inmate heated up baby oil and threw it on his face. Then for that Officer to find out that the inmate was let out of his cell and back into General Population the very next day. Hearing about all the slashings, stabbings, sexual assaults and daily brutality perpetrated against them and their fellow Officers, with no support or recourse has proven to be a disaster.

We heard from Officers with over 15 years on the job, willing to resign and find work elsewhere, all so they can go home safe each day to their families truly shows the magnitude of this systemic problem.

On another note, many of us don’t realize the safety Nassau County Correction Officers have with our 207-C Medical protections that State and City Corrections don’t have. New York State DOC injury time is completely contractual, not statutory like Nassau County. In the State Corrections contract for injuries sustained while on duty, they are afforded 6 months full pay, then they are allowed to utilize their accrued time (Vacation & Sick), then they can go ½ pay for 1 month for every year of service. If after 1 year of being out and the Officer’s injury is not deemed as an “assault”, the Officer is medically separated from the DOC and is TERMINATED. If it is deemed as a result of an “assault”, that Officer is given 2 years to return to work before they are medically separated and TERMINATED. NYS is very stringent on what they deem as an assault and don’t typically deem an inmate who resists during restraining as an assault.

Now add that with the States severe lack of staffing and the HALT Act and you start to get the picture of what has been kept hidden from the public’s view.

While we may wear a different patch on our shoulder, we are all in this fight together!

Stay Safe and as always as things develop, we will keep you informed.

Sincerely,

Pete LiLLi

President