Brothers and Sisters:

As we give thanks this holiday season, we must not forget to honor the sacrifice of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect our communities.

While most of us will be spending the holidays with our families, thousands of correctional employees, police officers, military personnel, and other first responders throughout our region will miss celebrations with their loved ones.

They will be on duty, fulfilling their responsibility to keep the public safe.

As a society, we don’t do enough to recognize the men and women who devote their lives to protecting the public. It is only when tragedy strikes – like the horrifying attacks in Paris or San Bernardino – that the true value of public safety work is recognized.

Unlike most public service agencies, our prisons and police departments do not close over the holidays. The work of our correctional and patrol officers and the vast network of personnel supporting them does not cease.

Work does not “slow down” for police officers, firefighters, and 911 dispatchers between Christmas and New Year’s. On the contrary, accidents occur more frequently and theft and property crime tend to increase.

Recently, at the Monroe Correctional Complex, an inmate brutally assaulted a male and female officer in the prison dining hall. Both officers were taken to the hospital, treated, and released.

This type of incident occurs far more frequently than people realize. Dozens of state correctional employees are assaulted every year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, correctional officers have one of the highest rates of non-fatal, work-related injuries. Many miss months of employment recovering from injuries sustained when they are on duty.

The two officers who were assaulted in the Monroe prison incident will now spend this holiday season, and perhaps longer, recovering from the attack.

Although we may not be able to completely stamp out assaults on prison staff, we can prioritize staff safety in our state. We can do this by ensuring adequate staffing levels, segregating repeat offenders, eliminating custody overrides, and providing proper training.

The holidays are a time to give thanks. As we celebrate with our friends and families, we must also remember to express our gratitude for the service, dedication, and sacrifice of the men and women who risk their lives to keep all of us safe.

Thank you for all that you do.

Happy holidays to you and your family.

In Solidarity,

John Scearcy
Secretary-Treasurer