It appears that there is an uptick in violence against Parole Officers and the Public Employees Federation (PEF) has done little to nothing to make the public aware. In 2020, a Parole Officer wounded a parolee with three shots through a windshield after the man struck the officer with his car outside a motel in western New York.
In 2021, three crooks robbed an on-duty Parole Officer at gunpoint in the Bronx. They ordered him not to move and grabbed his service weapon, as well as his cellphone.
Also in 2021, a Parole Officer and officers from other law enforcement agencies apprehended an absconder in the City of Elmira who was wanted in connection with a homicide in North Carolina. The Parole Officer observed the subject and gave verbal commands for the subject to stop and get on the ground.
The subject defied verbal commands and began exchanging gunfire with the officers and pointed his firearm at the Parole Officer, who fired his state-issued weapon as the subject continued to attempt to exchange gunfire with the officers. The subject was shot and ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
In 2022, a convicted sex offender bit a Parole Officer who was trying to arrest him at the Staten Island parole office. The subject bit the right arm of the Parole Officer and continued resisting arrest. Injuries suffered by the officer included bite-mark indentations, lacerations, bleeding, redness and pain.
We’ve only detailed a few acts of violence against Parole Officers that received media coverage. However, there have been several other incidents that have not made the news.
To make matters worse, this year, New York State denied PEF’s request to extend the enhanced worker’s compensation benefit for Parole Officers, also known as line-of-duty injury pay. Injuries incurred April 1, 2023 and after are no longer covered by the state.
Now more than ever, Parole Officers need to fragment from PEF and join the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) in order to secure stronger representation and much needed law enforcement benefits.
Every week, NYSCOPBA distributes press releases to the media highlighting violence against its members. Furthermore, NYSCOPBA members are permanently covered by the state for up to 6 months for injuries incurred while in the line-of-duty.
Come join us and let your voices be heard by calling PEF at (800) 342-4306 and demand that the union allow Parole Officers to join NYSCOPBA! Please call during business hours (Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm, Eastern Standard Time).
In solidarity,
New York State Parole Officers