Dear COBA Members;

In the wake of the implementation of HALT earlier this year and the subsequent precipitous rise in incidents of Use of Force and violent acts by inmates, COBA demanded from the County/Dept information on Workplace Violence Assessments that are required by both law and County Policy. This in an effort to garner what these assessments revealed and what steps the County/Dept is required to take to prevent incidents of violence at our facility.

Under the law and due to the nature of both our profession and those in the Police Dept, the County is required to assess not only incidents of violence that may occur between employees but also those involving inmates or criminal perpetrators.

In our investigation of this issue, COBA became aware that the County/Dept has failed to perform these assessments for quite some time.

As such, and as is required by law, the Union has filed both a Dept of Labor complaint and legal action in NYS Supreme Court to compel the County to perform these assessments (which must include the Union's input).

It is our intent, having to work in many times untenable situations due to the State's HALT Law, that the County be forced to act in some manner to prevent injury or assault against Officers due to the insanity of HALT.

We will keep you posted on this issue as it develops.

Brian Sullivan, COBA President