As you all know, on Friday, Sept 15th, 2017 the Correction Officers Benevolent Association conducted a Press Conference on the steps of the Nassau County Executive/Legislative Building in Mineola. Our purpose was to call out the Democratic Caucus of the Legislature for standing with a political fringe group calling itself "The Nassau Jail Coalition" at an earlier press conference of their own.

That group called for changes at the jail, all related to inmate advocacy. Included in this group were people holding signs stating "End Correction Officer Brutality". A woman named Susan Gotterher from the Civil Liberties Union was interviewed by News12 claiming in essence that CO's were abusing inmates at the jail. False statements and smears against Correction Officers will never be tolerated by COBA. As such, I demanded a formal apology from the Democratic Caucus and, barring that, resignations. Below is the written response from the Democratic Caucus of the Nassau Legislature. This letter was also copied to the Nassau Police Unions and distributed to all the local media outlets.

I am satisfied that our message was heard loud and clear. Going forward, the Legislature needs to work with us and the other County Unions to accomplish our goals with regard to Public Safety in Nassau County and in our case, a safer better run Correctional Facility for our Officers and the Inmates. Our messages must be clear, and we must all never allow ourselves or our message to be co-opted by fringe groups who would seek to use our issues for their own political agendas.

Click here to view their memo.