MARCH 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.3

AROUND THE

AROUND THE COUNTRYALBANY, NY.Concern after Hochul deploys National Guard, untrained paroleofficers to prisons amid wildcat correctional officer strike.62 The BLUES - MARCH ‘25ALBANY, NY - Last month, LawEnforcement Today reportedthat New York Governor KathyHochul threatened to deploythe New York National Guardto staff the state’s prisons ascorrectional officers in somefacilities walked off the job inprotest over salary, lax securitychecks for prison visitors, anda rollback on prison reforms,including one that limits solitaryconfinement.As we reported, some officershave refused to report for theirshifts at 25 facilities.On Wednesday, Hochul followedthrough on her threatand signed an executive orderdeploying Guard troops to NewYork state prison facilities, NBCNews reported.Hochul's office said in a pressrelease over 3,500 NationalGuard troops reported onWednesday to assess the situationand determine if additionalassets would be required. Therelease said the troops wouldmaintain general order in theprisons and distribute mealsand medication to inmates.The deployment of NationalGuard troops, which has beenimplemented, has raised concernsamong some family membersof the troops that they arebeing put in an untenable situationwithout proper training onhow to deal with violent criminals.In a post on Facebook, somepeople expressed concern overtheir deployment, with someasking if Guard members werecertified to work in a correctionalsetting. Another said, “Whenone of these troops resorts totheir instinctive combat trainingafter being attacked by an inmate,the result will be on [Gov.Kathy] Hochul.”Another posted, “I was just toldthey lasted 1 hour at Groveland.They said this is far worse thanwhat they were told and arestanding down. I mentioned inanother post that stupid Hochulis putting them in danger.”According to the Olean TimesHerald, Hochul has previously refusedto send New York NationalGuard troops to help secure thesouthern border. Instead, sheattempted to blame New YorkRepublican House members forrefusing to back a border billthat would have done little tosecure the border.As evidenced by the dramaticdecline in border crossings sincePresident Trump was sworn in,congressional action was notnecessary; it just took a returnto Trump’s border policies to get

things under control.Aside from National Guard members,the state is sending parole officersto the prisons to serve as defactocorrectional officers, WROCin Rochester reported. Accordingto the Department of Correctionsand Community Supervision (DOC-CS), parole officers receive “eightweeks” of training at the academy,which apparently qualifies them towork as prison guards. The husbandof one of those parole officersdisagrees.“My wife had none of that training.My wife is dealing with parolees,”said the husband, only identifiedas Tommy. “I don’t know whento expect my little bitty wife homeagain, whether it’s in the same day.I don’t know whether she’s going tobe thrown into a prison facility orwhether she’s going to be doingtransport, which, in fact,is dangerous. This is puttingmany lives at risk, and weneed help.”The DOCSS denies that paroleofficers are not trained,claiming they are “peaceofficers” and those deployedto correctional facilities havecome up through correctionofficer ranks.That does not soothe Tommy,however. He believes thedeployment is putting hiswife and others at risk, and heis calling on Hochul to solvethe problem.Tommy, a retired Buffalopolice officer, said he knowsmany correctional officersand is friends with some.“I know many correctionalofficers. I work with them. I havefriends and what kind of conditionsthey’re dealing with,” hesaid. “And how that HALT Act thatshe put into effect has basicallydrove everything into the ground.They need help.”The HALT Solitary ConfinementAct limits the time inmates spendin segregated confinement andexcludes certain persons frombeing placed there.To help end the wildcat strike,the state has declared a “prison-widestate of emergency,”which includes lifting HALT Actrestrictions and paying correctionofficers who report for workdouble time and a half.Reprinted from Law EnforcementToday.LE AGENCIESCALL FORPRICINGTel: 800-367-5855www.proforceonline.comSupplying Equipment and Accessoriesto Law Enforcement Agencies!OPTIC READY9MMHCP9379BOSP-COMPHELLCAT PROCOMP OSPCALIBER: 9MMCAPACITY: 15+1/17+1SIGHTS: NIGHT SIGHTSBARREL LENGTH: 3.7”5.56CALIBER: 5.56 NATOCAPACITY: 30+1SIGHTS: MAGPUL FLIP UPAR-556BARREL LENGTH: 16.1”STOCK: ADJUSTABLEHD P49MMCALIBER: 9MM20-2200-000106CAPACITY: 18+1SIGHTS: NIGHT SIGHTSBARREL LENGTH: 4” DLCCALL OR EMAIL US FOR PRICING OR ASK US ABOUT DEMOS OR TRADE-INS13622M&P15 SERIESCALIBER: 5.56 NATOCAPACITY: 30+1SIGHTS: FLIP UPBARREL LENGTH: 11.5”STOCK: ADJUSTABLEOPTIC READYSlide cut to fitHOLOSUN 509TRED85009MMML-1306-19200691Next Generation3.5MOA DOTRed Dot SightCALIBER: 9MM3.5 MOA DOT SIZECAPACITY: 15+1INCLUDES CR2032 BATTERYMR92050,000 HOURS (OVERSIGHTS: FIXED5 YEARS) OF CONSTANTBARREL LENGTH: 4”OPERATIONACROP-2SBRAGENCY ONLYCHECK OUT THESE GREATMANUFACTURERSAXON • AIMPOINT • BERETTACOLT • BIANCHI • TASER • BENELLISMITH & WESSON • CZ USADANIEL DEFENSE • HUXWRXSIG SAUER • SHADOW SYSTEMSDEFENSE TECHNOLOGY • AGUILAEOTECH • BURRIS • OTISMOSSBERG • PROTECH • RUGERSTREAMLIGHT • MAGPUL • H&KSAFARILAND • SPRINGFIELDBLACKHAWK • HOLOSUNTRIJICON • SUREFIRE • BOLA WRAPUS PEACEKEEPER • REMINGTONNIGHTSTICK • FNH AMERICANOTE: TERRITORY RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLYVisit our website today for up to dateinformation, pricing and products!PROMOTION ENDS 3/31/25Support Center: 2625 Stearman Road, Prescott AZ, 86301 Tel: (800) 367-5855e-mail: sales@proforceonline.com | www.proforceonline.comThe BLUES - MARCH ‘25 63