Guard’s attack blamed on cutbacks in prison

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | 10:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A guard was attacked and beaten at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City Friday, and a union official says it is an example of the way that officers' safety is being compromised by a staffing shortage.

Senior Correctional Officer Eugene Murguia was choked and suffered cuts and bruises, got his teeth knocked loose and received a cut in his lip that required stitches, said Gene Columbus, president of the Nevada Corrections Association.

Murguia was attacked while being the sole guard supervising 163 inmates. Normally there are two officers on duty, Columbus said.

Glen Whorton, assistant director of the state Department of Corrections, said Monday an investigation is under way to determine why there was not a second officer on duty.

Whorton said the department is going to ask the next Legislature to provide enough staff to cover times when there are unexpected absences due to such things as sickness or time off.

Columbus complained that the Legislature requires the prison to reduce salary costs by keeping some positions vacant so that the money saved can revert to the state treasury. That may work in a regular government agency but not at the prison, he said.

Columbus said the second officer that was supposed to be on duty to help supervise the 163 inmates was instead dispatched to the prison's mess hall for different duty before the attack.

Another officer, Justin Glenn, was passing outside the prison unit when he saw Murguia in a choke-hold. Glenn rushed in and helped the other correctional officer.

Whorton said three inmates "intervened" to help Murguia.

Columbus said front-line staff at the prison is "dangerously thin," and Whorton said the prison administration is concerned about the issue.

At that unit where the attack occurred, Columbus said, there had been recent violence and a "lot of tension," as well as threats against officers.

Whorton said there have been "incidents" at that dormitory unit but he did not know of any threats against officers.

Columbus said the union has notified the state Prison Board, led by Gov. Kenny Guinn, and all members of the Legislature about the attack and what the union says needs to be done to try to ensure the safety of guards.