Correction Officer kills self @ Green Haven

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Correction officer kills self at Green Haven state prison in Dutchess County

February 02, 2007

Stormville — A 34-year-old state correction officer shot himself to death late Wednesday night on his post at Green Haven state prison in Dutchess County.

The officer was a veteran of nearly 10 years with the state Department of Correctional Services and had an unblemished record. He wasn't immediately identified.

The officer was assigned to an observation tower on the perimeter of the maximum-security prison. His wife called the prison at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, saying she was concerned about him.

Prison staffers went to the tower, but couldn't open the hatch because of the weight of the officer's prone body, said Linda Foglia, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Correctional Services. State police used a ladder to climb into the tower. The Dutchess County medical examiner pronounced the officer dead at 1:30 a.m. yesterday.

The officer shot himself with his state-issued AR-15 rifle. State police are investigating.

It's believed to be the first on-duty suicide in the history of state corrections, Foglia said.

Oliver Mackson