Correctional officer injured at remand centre

A correctional officer was briefly knocked unconscious last week in an unprovoked attack at the Edmonton Remand Centre, the union that represents provincial employees said Monday.

On Nov. 15, an officer escorting an inmate back to his cell received a fairly serious punch to the head, said Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

Other officers came to the injured guard’s aid, he said.

“From what we understand, it was an unprovoked attack and it is a major concern for us when inmates feel they can treat the correctional officers that way,” Smith said.

“Our members put themselves at significant risk every single day.”

The incident is being investigated, he said. “We hope the inmate will be dealt with appropriately.”

Meanwhile, on Friday, two correctional peace officers at the Calgary Correctional Centre were assaulted, including one who was struck in the head, Smith said.

Both were taken to hospital for treatment, he said.

These attacks are more common than they should be, he said.

“An inmate who attacks a correctional officer should be dealt with appropriately,” Smith said.

“When you strike a peace officer in the community, there’s massive consequences, and the same consequences should apply to a peace officer inside a facility as well.”