SHERIFF OFFICERS WITH SANTA HOST HOLIDAY PARTY AT NASSAU COUNTY AHRC   DECEMBER 21, 2009 - The Sheriff Officers Association recently hosted a holiday party for over 75 girls and boys with special needs at the Association for the Help of Retarded Children (AHRC), in Brookville.  AHRC of Nassau County provides opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities to realize their potential and advocates for their personal growth, independence and full participation in society.  The Sheriff Officers Association (SHOA) represents more than 1,100 corrections officers who work in Nassau County.  The leaders and members of SHOA have supported AHRC’s holiday event for more than seven years and consider it to be one of its most rewarding outreach endeavors the organization is involved with.  Preparation for the pre-Christmas party starts weeks ahead as the officers help plan the event, purchase and wrap hundreds of presents.  AHRC Director, Marianne Klotz provides information as to the number of children and the types of items that would be most appropriate.  Based on age, interests and other factors, the presents are carefully selected by SHOA members for each child.       More than a dozen officers participated in the festivities at the AHRC Center making the day a wonderful success.  The fun-filled occasion included lunch with pizza pies, giant hero sandwiches, snacks, treats and beverages for every youngster.  The guest of honor, Santa Claus, arrived with great fanfare and offered his cheerful greetings to all.  After settling down in a special chair, he called each child by name and gave each a special wrapped present. “The AHRC event that ShOA sponsors each year is one of the most rewarding parts of our jobs.  The children are excited to see Santa, receive gifts and sing songs.  It is heart warming to see children’s eyes light up as they are given the gifts we picked-out for them.  The leaders and members of SHOA are committed to supporting young people and their families who live in our community,” said Mike Adams, President of SHOA.   To learn more about the Nassau AHRC visit www.ahrc.org and for more information about the Sheriff Officers Association please visit www.ncshoa.org.       FORMER INMATE INJURES NASSAU COUNTY CORRECTION OFFICER AT JAIL GATEHOUSE   (March 17, 2009 – Hicksville, NY) On March 16th a recently discharged inmate came to the Nassau County Correctional Facility to retrieve money that remained in his account in the Budget Office.  The correction officer manning the jail’s gatehouse refused the individual entry because he did not have proper identification and he appeared to be intoxicated.  The former inmate proceeded to push past the officer in an attempt to forcibly enter the facility.  The gatehouse officer responded by first requesting assistance via his radio, and then positioning himself between the former inmate and the facility entrance.  The officer gave the man several direct orders to stop.  After his directives were ignored, the officer deployed his OC Spray, or pepper spray, on the man who reacted violently attacking the officer.  Additional officers soon arrived to aid the gatehouse officer and assist him in bringing the assailant under control and placing him in handcuffs.   After the incident was quelled, the gatehouse correction officer, two additional correction officers and the former inmate were taken to and treated at a nearby hospital.  During the altercation the gatehouse correction officer suffered a fractured elbow and a second officer was treated for a sprained back. The former inmate was treated for OC Spray exposure and then arrested.  “Correction Officers face violence and high risks daily both inside and outside of our facilities.  This type of attack is especially dangerous because it occurred outside the facility itself where officers are often on posts by themselves.  Thanks to the quick actions and professionalism of the officers involved, the incident was handled before any further serious injuries were sustained, or facility security was breached.  SHOA remains committed to working to protect our members and ensure that those who commit acts of violence against Correction Officers are prosecuted swiftly and to the fullest extent of the law,” said Sheriff Officers Association President Michael Adams. Increase in Violent Incidents Reported at Nassau County Correctional Facility  Criminal from America’s Most Wanted Episode Assaults Nassau Corrections Officers (December 19, 2008– Hicksville, NY) The month of December has been marked with a noticeable increase in violent incidents for the nearly 1,100 members of the Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association. In four separate incidents over a two-week period four different correction officers have been injured. On December 17th two correction officers were injured after they were attacked by an inmate housed in the Nassau County Correctional Facility’s Behavior Modification Unit (BMU). The inmate was found in possession of contraband and while being searched, despite being handcuffed, the inmate wildly attacked the officers striking one in the face and landing several blows before being brought under control. The injured officer suffered minor injuries including facial  lacerations and bruising. The inmate involved is being held on charges relating to the murder off an off-duty NYC correction officer. He was also the subject of an America’s Most Wanted episode and is considered an escape risk prisoner who must be escorted to court appearances by an Emergency Response Team. Earlier this month on December 3rd two correction officers were attacked in the Nassau University Medical Center's emergency room by a violent inmate who was there to undergo a psychological evaluation. This inmate has a history of assaulting officers and is directly responsible for the forced retirement of one officer who suffered severe neck injuries as a result of his assault. That officer needed several surgeries to repair damage to his neck and back. On December 2nd two separate incidents occurred involving the Sheriff’s Department’s transportation unit. While transporting prisoners early in the day a person later identified as a former jail inmate disrupted a caravan of prisoners by driving his car aggressively between correction vehicles and yelling obscenities at correction officers. A second incident occurred later that day when another man was arrested after slamming his car into the back of a prison transport van then confronting correction officers. “The prisoners we deal with on a daily basis are often violent and many are mentally unstable. Daily, many of our officers are in positions where they face serious risk of physical harm and injury to themselves and their fellow officers. Correction officers have a tremendously dangerous and challenging job and these recent incidents underscore this. Through professionalism, dedication and hard work our officers managed these incidents, many of which could have be come life threatening,” said Michael Adams, President of the Sheriff Officers Association. The Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association (ShOA) was established in 1999 and is the certified union for all Nassau County Correction Officers and Supervisory ranks. The union has more than 1,100 members who work in the Nassau County Correctional Center. TWO SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT PRISONER CONVOYS DISRUPTED IN THE VILLAGE OF HEMPSTEAD (December 3, 2008 – Hicksville, NY) Two Nassau County Sheriff’s Department prisoner transportation convoys were disrupted in separate unrelated incidents on Tuesday, December 2. In each incident convoys were returning to the Nassau County Correctional Center (NCCC) in East Meadow from Hempstead District Court. Each convoy is manned by teams of more than 10 armed Correction Officers. In the first incident a black Nissan Maxima approached the Sheriff’s Department Vehicles. The Nissan was swerving erratically in what appeared to be an attempt to cut off the Department’s vehicles. While stopped at a traffic light and in a potentially vulnerable situation, the driver of the Nissan exited his car and approached a Sheriff’s vehicle screaming obscenities and making aggressive gestures. Officers directed the man (later identified as a former NCCC inmate) to return to his vehicle or face arrest. After reentering the car the driver and his passenger approached a second Sheriff’s Department vehicle and began screaming threats at the Officers then quickly sped away as traffic began moving again. The Officers, alert to the possibility of an escape attempt, called the Hempstead Village Police and alerted staff at the Nassau County Correctional Facility with the plate number of the vehicle. The second incident occurred later the same day when a Sheriff’s convoy carrying 16 inmates was confronted by an individual driving a black Ford Crown Victoria. The driver repeatedly swerved towards the convoy vehicles in an aggressive manner before intentionally ramming the rear of one of the vans. The driver exited his automobile and walked toward one of the vehicles. He approached in an aggressive manner with his hands concealed in his pockets. As a precaution several Officers drew their weapons. The individual ceased his aggressive behavior, was handcuffed and thereafter arrested on the scene by responding Village of Hempstead Police Officers. “These incidents represent the significant dangers Correction Officers face every day when involved in prisoner transportation. The Officers involved in these incidents acted professionally limiting the danger to the public, the inmates they were transporting and their fellow Officers, said Michael Adams, President of the Sheriff Officers Association. The Nassau County Sheriff Officers Association (ShOA) was established in 1999 and is the certified union for all Nassau County Correction Officers and Supervisory ranks. The union has more than 1,100 members who work in the Nassau County Correctional Center.