Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan issued a statement on Mar. 12 regarding the recent assault that left five correction officers injured at Auburn Correctional Facility.
The incident, which occurred on March 2 during evening movement for dinner, involved a 49-year-old inmate who attacked officers inside the facility. The inmate first punched an officer monitoring movement and then used a sharpened metal weapon to stab another officer multiple times. Officers restrained the inmate after he attempted to flee and continued to resist staff during his escort from the cell block.
Five correction officers were injured in the attack. Four sustained injuries but remained on duty, while the stabbed officer was taken to Auburn Community Hospital for treatment of puncture wounds and other injuries.
“As a member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Correction, I take incidents like this extremely seriously,” said Gallahan. “Our correction officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to maintain order and protect the safety of our communities. The violent assault that occurred at Auburn Correctional Facility is deeply troubling and underscores the dangerous conditions many officers are facing inside our state prisons.”
Gallahan said concerns about safety inside New York’s correctional facilities have been raised repeatedly by correction officers across the state. “About a year ago, I stood alongside correction officers who were speaking out about the unsafe working conditions inside our prisons,” Gallahan said. “Unfortunately, incidents like this show that those concerns were not only valid, but that more must be done to ensure the safety of the men and women working on the front lines of our correctional system.”
Gallahan thanked those who responded quickly to bring the situation under control and extended well-wishes to those injured. “I am grateful for the professionalism and courage of the officers who responded during this incident,” Gallahan said. “My thoughts are with the officers who were injured, and I wish them a full and speedy recovery.”
Gallahan has contributed to community causes through business donations and volunteer work, according to his official biography. He volunteers with groups such as Sons of the American Legion and Clifton Springs Area YMCA, according to his official biography. He also founded and leads Red Jacket High School’s trap shooting team as reported by his official biography.
Gallahan is a lifelong resident of Ontario County, according to his official biography. He won election to the New York State Assembly on November 3, 2020 as stated in his official biography. Gallahan and his wife have two children and three grandsons who grew up in their local community as noted in his official biography.
