State Prison CO’s in Yuma working in COVID-19 infected prison in Florence
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Correctional officers at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Yuma (AZSPCY) are volunteering to work day-to-day shifts at the state prison in Florence, Ariz. where currently there are over 20 positive cases of COVID-19 among inmates and staff.
There are currently zero cases of coronavirus at the state prison in Yuma and correctional officers want to keep it that way. However, controversy is brewing after some received a verbal mandate from higher ups to go work their day-to-day shifts at the infected prison.
According to sources at AZSPCY, as of now correctional officers are given the opportunity to volunteer and are traveling over 200 miles to the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence to work their eight hour shifts on their days off. The incentives they're being given to volunteer is overtime pay, paid travel time that amounts for eight hours, and a 25 percent raise to work in the area.
One AZSPCY officer claims that not enough officers are volunteering, meaning that in turn, a mandate could soon go into effect.
He fears that he could catch the virus if he's forced to work at the infected complex and as he comes home every night, bring the virus back to his wife, kids, coworkers, inmates, and the general Yuma population.
The officer, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, said that if they refuse the mandate they will face disciplinary actions. This where the Union is stepping in.
The Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association (AZCPOA) is telling it's officers to refuse the mandate, and they'll be taken care of with the force of the union. AZCPOA's Executive Director, Carlos Garcia, said he's been getting the silent treatment when contacting the Arizona Department of Corrections (AZDOC) about the situation. However he refuses to stop, and will continue to fight for his officers.
News 11 reached out to the AZDOC for comment and never heard back. However the latest media release on its website details a COVID-19 management strategy that focuses on the continuous suspension of legal and non-legal visitation at all Arizona complexes.
