The tragic death of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing at the Ross Correctional Institution on Christmas Day has led to a significant change to improve officer safety. At the request of OCSEA, the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections has agreed to allow correction officers at the Ross and Trumbull Correctional Institutions to carry tasers as a deterrent against violent assaults as part of a pilot program.

“DRC finally faced up to the reality that staffing and security concerns cannot be downplayed any longer. And it became obvious to them that we would not back down,” said OCSEA President Chris Mabe. “The mutual agreement to deploy tasers at Ross and Trumbull represents a significant victory for the safety of our members.”

Bobby Stamper, the President of RCI Chapter 7130, says tasers can neutralize a threat quicker and improve safety in a facility. “They are another tool in the tool bag to manage a situation,” Stamper said.
 
DRC has also requested additional funding through the state budget for statewide deployment of tasers after Ross and Trumbull. Read more about the staffing and safety concerns at DRC and the Dept. of Youth Services in the Winter 2025 edition of PEQ magazine.