ANOTHER STATE CORRECTIONAL POLICE OFFICER ASSAULTED WITH BODILY FLUID TO THE FACE WILLINGBORO (4/29/24)— Two New Jersey State Correctional Police Officers suffered another vile assault by bodily fluid on Saturday morning while attempting to serve breakfast to inmates in their facility. As both officers were securing the food port of an inmate’s cell, the inmate assaulted both officers by throwing feces on them, striking one officer from head to toe and in his face, and the other on his uniform, jacket and boots. Both officers were medically evaluated on-site but requested to be escorted to a nearby hospital for outside medical attention. The inmate refused to state why he assaulted the officers. “The ombudsperson's office and advocacy groups consistently release reports criticizing the actions of our officers without truly understanding what goes on day in and day out,” said William Sullivan, President of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 105. “They rely on information provided by inmates, painting a skewed picture of reality. It is crucial for them to collaborate closely with the prison population, as we do, before passing judgment. Without experiencing the challenges faced by our officers firsthand, they lack the necessary insight to comment on prison operations.” “Rather than seeking attention with sensational reports, they should focus on the alarming increase in assaults that resulted from their misguided efforts to eliminate solitary confinement. The isolated confinement act, championed by advocacy groups, has set back our department significantly, leading to a 300% rise in assaults on staff and making recruitment increasingly difficult. Amendments and reform are urgently needed to address these issues.” “Until meaningful changes are made, we will continue to face assaults and staffing shortages. It is time for the ombudsperson's office and advocacy groups to take a more informed and collaborative approach to improve conditions within our correctional facilities.” ##