Updated 9/7 @ 9:00pm...
Today we can confirm another attack by an inmate on an officer at the Green Bay Correctional Institution. This latest attack makes it the fourth assault on an officer in just the last year that has been reported.
The incident happened last Friday afternoon when an inmate assaulted an officer and in turn that officer was taken to the hospital for treatment. Today Governor Walker and correctional officers are sounding off regarding what they say are the institutions ongoing safety concerns and even how to solve them.
We've told you about the mandatory overtime with some officers banking 600 to 800 plus hours this year alone in extra hours. We've also shared with you concerns about the serious staff shortages that some say contributes to violence in the prison. Today once again NBC26 is sharing another story about an officer assaulted while on the clock.
Just a month and a half ago the Green Bay Correctional Institution was 28 correctional officers short of fully staffed.
"We've made a series of changes already and look for more in the future. But we allowed the Secretary of the Department of Corrections to increase pay to try and recruit more individuals," says Governor Walker.
By offering an incentive in pay, which amounts to about a buck thirty an hour temporarily, the Department of Corrections believes the department should be closer to just 10 officers within a week or two.
"The best thing we can do is offer them more pay. I mean I think that's the biggest thing out there. If we can do that we can recruit more people," adds Governor Walker.
But officers we spoke to say they don't want the raise. They would much rather have management openly communicate with them and let them voice safety concerns openly to management. For instance, just two weeks back some correctional officers NBC26 heard from said management hadn't told officers on the front lines about the potential of a nationwide prison riot coming up on September 9th. During that potential riot inmates have made plans to kill officers and white inmates. Yet correctional officers told us they found out through other departments about the planned event. Something they say management knew about weeks ago and they could have been preparing in the meantime.
Today the Department of Corrections told us they are monitoring and evaluating that situation. Adding correctional facility leadership have been making front line staff aware of the planned protest. The Department of Corrections Secretary adds that he has also directed leaders and managers to promote open lines of communication between DOC employees and management. NBC26 will continue to follow all developments relating to the DOC and safety concerns that continue to come up from staff who works there.
