NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Around 20 Department of Correction officers have been suspended for skipping work, a day after Mayor Bill de Blasio announced emergency actions at Rikers Island — including a 30 day suspension without pay for AWOL officers.
The NYC Department of Correction confirmed the approximate suspensions Wednesday and said there have been bonuses levied for officers who have worked triple shifts.
"We understand tremendous challenges have existed in Rikers before the pandemic and the pandemic made them worse," de Blasio said Tuesday during his daily briefing while explaining the actions. "We understand it's tough work and a tough environment, but folks not showing up for work is unacceptable."
Staffing issues, cleaning conditions and more were some of the concerns that the mayor has cited as the need to address and what many of the 14 state legislators that visited the "horror island" Tuesday said needed to be overhauled.
Bronx state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi called the conditions at Rikers a "humanitarian crisis," noting it is understandable why officers do not want to show up for work.
"It is unsafe for everyone," she said after their visit. "There’s no wonder why correction staff doesn’t want to come to work.”
Benny Boscio, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, told NY 1 more officers are needed, but conditions at Rikers puts them at a "disadvantage."
“We need 2,000 more correction officers," Boscio said. "And the cells have to be fixed. They have to break up the gang-populated areas where they’re housing inmates by their same gang affiliation. It puts us at a disadvantage.”
Though de Blasio said Wednesday that there are "good hardworking officers," he blamed the pandemic for exacerbating conditions, calling the current situation a "Catch-22."
"This situation has gotten exacerbated more and more, and we need officers to show up. It is their job. It's their duty. That's what the vast majority are doing ... If people don't show up than other people suffer who are doing the work. So, no, everyone's got to show up for their job," he said.
An $8.7 billion package passed by the City Council in 2019 is expected to ultimately close Rikers by Aug. 2027.