Ohio union representing federal guards reacts to correction officer’s death
Ohio law enforcement is mourning after a corrections officer was killed by an inmate on Christmas.
Andrew Lansing died after he was allegedly assaulted by an inmate at a Ross County prison, which is near Columbus.
The incident caught the attention of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA). The group is asking for a change in the way prison leadership handles conduct reports.
“We have conduct reports written by staff and reports written by staff and officers inside the facilities and a lot of times, those things seem to be… pushed down to the lowest levels of discipline,” said Chris Mabe, president of OCSEA.
Mabe is asking department leadership to be more considerate of correctional officers.
“A lot of leadership in our department now no longer comes from boots on the ground from officers or staff and they don't really understand or feel the same feelings and experiences our staff do. They need to feel empowered. They need to feel protected and supported,” said Mabe.
OCSEA sent a letter to governor Mike Dewine. The letter asks the governor to suspend the state prison director and the warden at the Ross County prison during the investigation of the incident.
The Ohio State Highway patrol is handling the investigation.
Lansing was 62 years old, and served with the department of rehabilitation and correction for more than 20 years.