NYC Correction Officer Thumb Bitten Off by Inmate at AMKC on Rikers Island 12-3-10

New York, December 3, 2010-- In response to the latest violent melee that occurred late last night at Riker’s Island at the Anna M. Kross Center, Norman Seabrook, President of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, said “Budget cuts and savage inmates are literally eating away at our membership. It is inexcusable for the Correction Commissioner to be MIA while our members are being so viciously attacked!” President Seabrook was alluding to the fact that the only high-ranking official from the Correction Department to respond to this violent incident was a low-level Deputy Warden and President Seabrook noted the absence of the Chief of the Department, as well as, the Correction Commissioner.

At approximately 10:45 PM last night, three Correction Officers assigned to AMKC were involved in a violent Use of Force incident leaving one CO treated for palpitations, a second CO being treated for lacerations to his hand, with the most serious injury incurred by a third CO who is also a veteran of the war in Iraq, who had his thumb bitten off and severed at the knuckle by a savage inmate. All three Correction Officers were rushed to Bellevue Hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released.

This is the latest of four major violent melees that have taken place at Riker’s Island within the last six months. “At this rate, it’s just a matter of time before a Correction Officer is murdered at the hands of inmate,” President Seabrook said.