Toomey Leads Effort To Protect Federal Correctional Officers

Press Release

U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is again spearheading a bipartisan effort to better protect Pennsylvania's federal correctional officers.

Sen. Toomey and U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) have re-introduced legislation named for the late Eric Williams, a correctional officer who was murdered by an inmate while on duty at the U.S. Penitentiary, Canaan (Wayne County) in 2013.

The "Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015" authorizes correctional officers, and all other employees required to respond to inmate emergencies in federal medium-security prisons and higher to carry pepper spray. Also, the measure instructs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate issuing pepper spray to correctional officers in minimum or low-security penal facilities.

"Officer Eric Williams' murder was horrific and shocking," said Sen. Toomey. "Over the past year, I have met with federal corrections workers from across Pennsylvania and have been given first-hand accounts of what they deal with every day. It is clear to me that to prevent future tragedies and save lives, we need to expand the availability of pepper spray for correctional workers. While some level of risk will always be present in a prison, Congress can and must do more to protect these public servants. I urge the Senate to pass this bipartisan bill in short order."

"This bipartisan legislation will enhance the security of correctional workers at additional facilities across the country," Sen. Casey said. "This year Congress has an opportunity to provide these brave men and women an additional measure of protection as they conduct the important work of keeping prisons safe. I'm hopeful that Congress will move forward on this legislation in the coming months."

Sen. Toomey has also re-introduced legislation to permit correctional officers to carry their personal firearm while they commute to-and-from work. The impetus for this bill stems from the murder of Lt. Osvaldo Albarati, a correctional officer in Puerto Rico who was gunned down while driving home from work. It is believed Albarati was murdered due to his work to end a cellphone smuggling ring at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Currently, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prohibits correctional officers from carrying firearms while commuting to-and-from work and into the prison building. Sen. Toomey's bill allows officers to carry their firearm and store it in either a central storage area located outside of the secure perimeter of a prison or in a Bureau of Prison approved vehicle lockbox while an officer is on duty.

Pennsylvania is home to seven federally operated prison facilities and thousands of federal corrections officers.

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