COLLINS, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Collins Correctional Facility remains on lockdown as of Thursday after an incident earlier in the day.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said an incarcerated individual was trying to discard contraband and there was a use of force that led to the recovery of two cell phones. The other incarcerated individuals in his dorm became agitated and attempted to check on him which led to on-site staff and supervisors de-escalating the incident and they returned to their cubes.
According to DOCCS, as a result of various potential threats, staff exited three dorms without incident later in the morning. DOCCS said there were no hostages taken in any of the three dorms and after ordering the lockdown, Commissioner Martuscello activated emergency protocols, including negotiating teams, who restored staff to the units and achieved a peaceful resolution.
DOCCS said everyone is safe, one officer sustained a minor injury and returned to duty and no incarcerated individuals were injured. The facility will remain on lockdown for a full facility frisk.
7 News has reached out to DOCCS for clarification on exactly what happened, such as:
- If the staff de-escalated the situation why were there threats?
- Why did the COs have to exit the dorms?
- Why did the commissioner travel to the facility and issue a lockdown?
We have yet to receive a response to our questions.
RELATED: Commissioner Martuscello spoke at a state budget hearing Thursday and provided more details on what happened inside the prison. You can read more on that here.
NYSCOPBA Western Region Vice President Kenny Gold told 7 News early on Wednesday that he believed the issue was caused by staffing problems.
In August 2024 Gold was part of a group that came together to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to make prisons a safer place to work. You can watch our previous report below and read more here.
For months 7 News I-Team has been hearing from corrections officers inside prisons across WNY about concerns for their safety and staffing levels and how it's impacting how they do their job.
The I-Team wanted to find out how many official complaints had been filed with the state and where they were coming from. So in August 2024, the I-Team requested a copy of all written complaints from corrections officers, staffers and employees at state-run facilities including Wende, Collins, Wyoming, Attica, Orleans and Albion. Each time the I-Team expects the state to respond to the request, it is told they need more time to respond. In the latest letter, the I-Team was told to expect the documents by February 14.
"Enough is enough, you know, that's what all our members are saying that they're done, they're beaten down," Gold told 7 News' Jaurdyn Johnson Wednesday evening.
"I'm going to say unequivocally that the governor and the commissioner of DOCCS are being criminally negligent with this idea of cutting 30%," said State Senator George Borrello, whose district encompasses Collins Correctional Facility.
An internal memo from the Department of Corrections Commissioner suggested reducing the current staffing model to 70% of its original size, prompting a review of posts and duties.
"Cutting staff to create more violent and dangerous situations, to put the staff that we are sworn to protect, here, the staff of New York State government, in even more dangerous situations is just disgraceful," said Senator Borrello.
You can watch our full report with Gold and Borello below.
