LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The ongoing plea from Michigan corrections officers about persistent staffing shortages continues to be ignored by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and it is putting lives at stake.

A fight at a U.P. facility.

State Rep. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) recently toured the Chippewa Correctional Facility. He says a prisoner struck a worker within clear view of him and other administration officials.

MORE NEWS: Benson’s Broken Website Just Got More Expensive

“This startling attack was especially troubling because this prisoner…are no longer in fear of any repercussions for this behavior,” said Rep. Prestin. “This prisoner could plainly see that he was standing in front of the entire facility administration team and still had no reservations about committing a serious assault.”

Prestin said that’s not an isolated incident. He said in the three weeks leading up to his visit, nine staff members had endured assaults. In addition, Prestin said “the prison saw 22 prisoner assaults or fights, three threats on staff, four uses of weapons by prisoners in violent attacks, two uses of cell extraction teams, a lockdown, and the murder of a prisoner.”

What’s being done?

The Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) sounded the alarm in July when it sent a letter to Gov. Whitmer asking her to activate the National Guard to fill in the gaps in the state’s prison. She has not responded.

In the meantime, the MCO reports officers are often forced to work mandatory 16-hour shifts. The Department of Corrections currently employs 5,500 officers to oversee nearly 33,000 felons in Michigan’s 26 facilities. Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington has been MIA in solving this problem, with some lawmakers calling for her resignation.

What do corrections officers say they need?

Prestin echoed the same needs that the MCO has been highlighting for months – increased wages, healthcare benefits, and better retirement benefits.

“Unfortunately, events like [these fights] are what happens when there has been a consistent erosion of support from the Michigan Department of Corrections and the governor,” Prestin said. “There have been assaults like these at facilities all across the state, including the facilities in Manistee, Adrian, Baraga, Carson City, Muskegon, and Ionia.” He ended with his support of law enforcement. “You can’t blame those officers who have found themselves overwhelmed and look to leave their position entirely, which only makes the problem worse. We urgently need a better way forward.”