In light of a troubling surge in incidents where prison staff have fallen seriously ill after exposure to inmates suspected of drug overdoses — most recently at Lakeview Correctional Facility on Monday — state Sen. George Borrello issued the following statement:

“For too long, DOCCS and the Hochul administration have ignored the escalating crisis of contraband and dangerous drugs infiltrating our state’s correctional facilities. The recent surge in inmate overdoses — followed by staff falling ill and even requiring Narcan to be revived — leaves no doubt that our corrections officers and medical personnel are being placed in harm’s way daily, with little to no protection from the state.

“These brave men and women are tasked with maintaining order and ensuring safety within our prisons, yet they are the ones being sent to the hospital after unknowingly coming into contact with lethal substances. The fact that hazmat teams and law enforcement officials cannot even determine what these substances are should be setting off alarm bells at the highest levels. Instead, the administration continues to drag its feet while officers suffer.

“It is time for real action. The availability and use of body scanners to screen all visitors entering our prisons should be standard operating procedure. However, it is not, despite the technology being authorized in the 2023 state budget. Contact visits should be suspended by executive order until improved drug detection methods and enhanced safety protocols are in place.”

“If Gov. (Kathy) Hochul is truly committed to protecting public servants, she must act now to ensure that staff working in our correctional facilities are not forced to risk their lives just by doing their jobs. These dedicated men and women deserve better, and I will continue to fight for the protections they need.”

Earlier this week, the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc. called on the New York state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to take immediate action to address the recent rash of incidents of staff becoming ill, including one incident locally, after coming into contact with inmates who have apparently overdosed on drugs, as well as the amount of contraband that are still getting into the hands of inmates.

Those drugs are causing multiple overdoses that require Narcan to be administered to reverse the lethal effects of the drugs and causing officers and medical staff to become sick.

In the first month of this year, there have been several incidents of inmate overdoses and staff developing significant health symptoms after having contact with inmates, the union reported. These incidents are taking place across the state and close to home.

Four officers were injured and exposed to an unknown substance at Lakeview Correctional Facility near Brocton on Jan. 27 after a combative inmate attacked them as they entered his cell when he covered the cell door window and refused to respond to orders. The officers were injured when they opened his cell door, and he charged at them. They grabbed him in a body hold and forced him to the floor where he remained combative.

On the floor, the inmate bit one officer’s finger, breaking the skin.

Once officers were able to get handcuffs on the inmate, he became compliant and was escorted to a holding cell to be evaluated. Beside the injuries the four officers sustained in the attack, they also developed shortness of breath, tightness in their chests, elevated blood pressure and fatigue. They were transported to Westfield Hospital and treated and released and did not return to duty.

Other similar incidents were reported in facilities in Malone and Marcy.