Benny Boscio, president of the city's correction officers union, stated, 'Deploying chemical agents actually makes it less likely for inmates and officers to sustain serious injuries than by using physical force instead.' His comments emphasize the vital role of pepper spray in ensuring safety during altercations, suggesting a misjudgment in the council's proposed legislation.
Boscio challenged Councilmember Sandy Nurse to witness the realities of correction work, stating, 'We invite Councilmember Nurse and any other councilmembers who support this reckless legislation to spend a full day with us in a housing area with gang-affiliated inmates.' This highlights the substantial risks correction officers face on a daily basis.
The proposed legislation, backed by Council members Nurse and Cabán, limits the use of pepper spray to only extreme emergencies, which Boscio argues puts both officers and detainees at heightened risk: 'we have seen female correction officers offer accounts of their assaults without the use of chemical agents.'
Councilwoman Nurse’s bill mandates authorization from tour commanders for pepper spray use, prompting criticism: 'Nurse should know full well by now that chemical agents are only used in emergency situations.' This challenge reflects concerns over legislative understanding of correction practices.
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