Prison guard beating prompts meeting between union, Geo reps

Executives with the private, for-profit company managing the Delaware County prison in Concord met with local prison guards and members of the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America Tuesday in the wake of a reportedly severe beating one guard received at the hands of an inmate.

“I thought the meeting was positive,” said Michael Hamre, a sergeant and local president of the SPFPA union at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility. “They came, they talked, they addressed issues. They will meet again in a couple of weeks to see how we feel about the process.”

A spokesperson for Geo Group Inc., which manages the prison for the county, also described the meeting as productive.

“We utilize these meetings as an opportunity to listen and address any concerns within the facility and most importantly, to ensure that we continue to work together to provide a safe environment at all times for our staff, as well as those entrusted in our care,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

Facility Administrator David Byrne said the assault took place Aug. 5 during a routine morning inspection when an inmate became hostile and refused to submit to having his cell inspected.

A sergeant responded and ordered the inmate to allow himself to be placed in restraints, according to Byrne. The inmate did not comply and then assaulted the sergeant. A second officer immediately called for help and the inmate was subdued.

Hamre said the sergeant was beaten with a pair of handcuffs and punched several times. He is still recovering from his wounds and is awaiting word from medical professionals on possible surgery, Hamre said. Another officer is also still out of work and being treated for a concussion, he added.

“Obviously it’s horrifying to see somebody like (the sergeant), a hardworking guy who goes to work every day … being taken off the unit on a stretcher,” said Hamre. “He was covered in blood and didn’t know exactly what was going on.”

Byrne indicated the sergeant was kept at a local hospital overnight for observation and released the next day, and the other officer was treated by onsite medical staff for minor injuries. The inmate was also treated for minor injuries and placed in the Secure Management Unit, according to Byrne.

Hamre said staff at the prison face threats as a daily reality and assaults against employees happen regularly, though he characterized the injuries suffered here as unusual.

The assault prompted a meeting with local corrections officers including Hamre, as well as SPFPA International President Dave Hickey, SPFPA Region 3 Vice President Rick O’Quinn, Geo Group Eastern Region Vice President Blake R. Davis and Geo’s executive vice president of human resources, Christopher Ryan.

“Our concerns were about basic safety for the staff at the prison and the things we focused on were the hiring and training process of new corrections officers,” said Hamre. “They promised to address those issues and fix them, and to have more meetings with our union in the future to make sure they’re following up and doing that.”

Hickey also described the meeting as “very positive” and commended the local officers for doing an excellent job of presenting members’ concerns.

“I hope it hit home,” he said. “I feel like they heard us. They made some commitment that local officers would be involved in training on a personal basis. Senior people will work with new people, tell them what’s expected and required, versus just a trainer.”

Hickey said there is high turnover for corrections officers nationwide and staffing quality people to do those jobs is difficult. Giving veterans like Hamre, who has worked at the prison since October 2001, the ability to guide new hires could help keep retention rates up.

“I have great faith the company is going to work with the local and the international (unions) and make those changes,” said Hickey, whose membership makes up about 35 percent of Geo’s prison guard population nationwide. “We have high expectations that Geo will keep their commitments. I have to say that normally, the corporate people who attended the meeting – Chris (Ryan) in particular – if they give a commitment, they keep it.

“We don’t want to see anybody get hurt again.”