A corrections officer in Ohio was recently killed after an inmate in a correctional facility allegedly killed him during a Christmas Day attack. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) released a statement explaining that Officer Andrew Lansing had lost his life after an “inmate assault.”
Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Annette Chambers-Smith, shared a statement about the incident. “It is with great sadness that I confirm the tragic death of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing following an inmate assault that occurred at Ross Correctional Institution this morning,” her statement read.
Officer Lansing is a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross, and his untimely death – on Christmas Day – is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole. Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues and known to be a great support for his fellow RCI staff. He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional.
Describing the difficulty presented by the loss, she continued, “The loss of a staff person is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension. Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family on this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and our agency will never be the same.”
“We ask that you keep Officer Lansing’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time,” the official added. “The Ross Correctional Institution is currently operating under restricted movement, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s investigation is underway. The inmate suspect has been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.”
However, various users on social media offered criticism toward Annette-Chambers, suggesting that her allegedly woke leadership, in siding with criminals, has contributed to the incident. “Sadly. Annette Chambers doesn’t care about COs safety. COs getting attacked more often and she chooses to side with the inmate and their families ! Had he lived ,she would have blamed the staff or him …she only cares about protecting the inmates ! Period ! Terrible tragedy 🙏,” one person wrote on Facebook.
Demonstrating this sentiment, another person dismissed Annette-Chambers’ leadership. “Restricted movement. Smh. Should be no movement. Should be locked down and kept on lockdown for a long time for this horrible tragedy. It’s a terrible loss not only for the department but for his family and loved ones,” they wrote.
Continuing, to slam the seemingly euphemistic approach to law enforcement and justice, they added, “That director has created an environment where “incarcerated individuals” assault staff knowing that they will not do anything to punish them for their actions other than give them a hug and “rehabilitate” their wrongdoings and not give them the harshest sanctions or criminal time. Its not the inmates fault ever for their wrongdoing at ODRC. They would find anyway to say it was the officers fault instead of the inmates. I lost faith in this department years ago and this just proves my point why I lost faith in it. Officer Lansing you will never be forgotten for your ultimate sacrifice and service.
Watch a woman be jailed for trying to evict alleged squatters in Georgia:
"*" indicates required fields