Update...
After an assault by an inmate at the Green Bay Correctional Institution just last month that left a prison guard with 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 40 percent on his body, today we’ve learned that he's finally home recovering. But as NBC26 reports, a State Senator is continuing to push for changes now to make the facility safer for staff.
The Department of Corrections was recently approached with a handful of safety suggestions for state run prisons. Those suggestions turned into proposed bills, but the secretary of the DOC doesn't seem to be interested.
"We sent him a message and asked for an independent study and he has not responded. I checked with my office today and there has been no response. He thinks they can do it in house," says State Senator Dave Hansen.
It was after the assault on officer McKee that Senator Hansen proposed some major safety changes.
"We have to invest in corrections; we have to pay extra if we have to have better radios and mirrors set right and to have people in the kitchen that can be trusted. So we have to do all of that," adds Senator Hansen.
The prison here was on lockdown following the assault on officer McKee for nearly a month. Just recently that lockdown was finally lifted. But after drugs were attempted to be smuggled inside and a live 22 round shell was also discovered just weeks ago, safety and security concerns remain high.
"But if you're understaffed maybe you're not going through the necessary security to make sure they're not bringing in drugs or whatever," adds Senator Hansen.
And while the proposed bills to increase safety measures here will have to wait until January to be considered for approval by the Senate, for now Senator Hansen and the guards at prisons across the state will continue pulling for officer McKee.
“I just wish him the very best and a speedy recovery and anything we can do to prevent similar instances in the future; we gotta do it," says Hansen.
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Original Story...
NBC26 has confirmed Green Bay Corrections officer John McKee has been released from the hospital. McKee was scalded with boiling water while on duty late last month.
The attack sparked a call for safety measures to be made in order to protect officers. State lawmakers are leading efforts for changes to be made within the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.
