New York City, NY – Two correction officers at Rikers Island were brutally assaulted in separate incidents on Monday, resulting in serious injuries to their faces and hands. Sources revealed to The Post that the first attack occurred around 1 p.m. at the George R. Vierno Center when an officer attempted to intervene in a gang fight involving approximately 10 inmates. Despite using pepper spray, the officer was ignored by the inmates who proceeded to engage in violence, resulting in the officer sustaining a severe laceration on his hand from a food pan lid.
The 22-year-old officer, who had only been on the job for nine months, received four stitches for the wound on his hand. He described the chaotic situation, stating, “I was trying to prevent multiple inmates from fighting each other. A lot of other items were being thrown and one of them struck my hand and sliced it open.” A response team eventually arrived to separate the inmates and restore order.
In the second incident at the Robert N. Davoren Complex around 6:15 p.m., a female correction officer was punched in the face by an inmate despite using pepper spray. The officer, who has been in the field for seven years, suffered multiple facial and sinus fractures, along with a cut under her eye. The attacker, identified as Tymirh Bey-Foster, is facing murder charges related to a 2020 shooting in Queens.
These violent attacks add to a worrying trend of inmate violence against correction officers, with over 150 incidents reported since December 2023. The situation is expected to worsen with the upcoming restrictions on the use of solitary confinement. City officials vetoed a bill that would have limited the use of solitary confinement in jails, citing concerns for the safety of both inmates and staff.
Rikers Island has a history of issues related to solitary confinement, which came under scrutiny following the death of former inmate Kalief Browder in 2015. Efforts to reform the use of solitary confinement have been ongoing, but union officials fear that the recent ban on 23-hour lockdowns has emboldened inmates to assault officers with little consequence. Union President Benny Boscio called for repealing the legislation to protect the lives of everyone in the jails.
As the city grapples with escalating violence at Rikers Island, the safety and well-being of correction officers remain a top priority. The ongoing challenges underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to ensure a secure environment for both inmates and staff members.