COBA President Norman Seabrook

Last Night's Melee on

Rikers Island

WE HAVE A STAFFING

CRISIS

March 27, 2010

Statement from COBA President Norman Seabrook Regarding Last Night's Melee on Rikers Island


"Last night's melee at the George R. Vierno Center is yet another example of the staffing crisis we're facing in the Department of Corrections. Slashings and assaults on staff continue to rise to perilous levels while the Department continues to shrink the necessary number of Correction Officers needed to maintain safety and security in the jails. If the Department continues to believe that they can do more with less, then they are penny smart and a pound foolish. No law enforcement agency in this city--whether it is police or corrections, can be jeopardized by bean counters. Had the proper staffing numbers been in place to begin with, this incident could have been most likely avoided. Do we have to wait until a Correction Officer is killed to realize this city cannot put a price tag on public safety?"

--Norman Seabrook