CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A corrections officer died after an assault by an inmate in an Ohio prison on Christmas morning, authorities said Wednesday.
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said correction officer Andrew Lansing died “following an inmate assault” that morning at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe.
“The loss of a staff person is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension,” department director Annette Chambers-Smith said in a statement posted on the department's Facebook page.
“Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family on this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and our agency will never be the same,” Chambers-Smith said.
No details about the alleged assault or the inmate were immediately released. The prison was said to be “operating under restricted movement” and the Ohio State Highway Patrol was investigating.
"The inmate suspect has been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility,” the department said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol confirmed to Spectrum News 1 Thursday afternoon that the suspect was identified as inmate Rashawn L. Cannon and that the incident is still under investigation.
"The Ohio State Highway Patrol mourns alongside our Department of Rehabilitation and Correction partners for their tragic loss," they said via email.
Lansing was described as “a longtime, well-respected employee” at the prison who “was loved by his colleagues.”
“He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional,” the department said.
In a letter to Gov. Mike DeWine from Christopher Mabe, president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, they said this "is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern."
"The safety and security of our correctional institutions depend on effective leadership, adherence to protocols, and the prioritization of staff welfare," the letter reads. "This incident calls into question whether these fundamental principles have been upheld under the current leadership. Immediate action is required to address this situation and prevent further loss of life."
Mabe said their hearts go out to the family, friends and staff at the institution.
“There’s a conduct report written by officer Lansing dealing with the inmate in question," he said. "Report was written on threats, disobedience of direct order and disrespect back in April.”
But Mabe said it’s about what didn’t happen after that report was filed that concerns him.
He believes the department didn’t properly address the situation.
Mabe said they’ve sent the letter to the governor asking him to place Chambers-Smith and the warden at the Ross Correctional Institution on administrative leave.
He said it’s necessary to ensure a fully transparent investigation.
“We believe that a lot of times the Department of Corrections lessens the penalties to make the appearance of violence and drugs lessened inside our institutions,” Mabe said. “Violence, officer, staff being hurt continuously inside our facilities, the lack of staffing, the mandatory overtime, the lack of the ability to enforce the rules inside our department and make it a safer environment for years we’ve consistently fought back against the administration of staffing levels.”
Chambers-Smith was unavailable for comment – but in her release announcing Lansing’s death, she described the incident as “heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole.”
“We do believe this was an avoidable one loss of life and we think the department, we know the department needs to take the issues of our officers and our staff more to heart,” Mabe said.
On Thursday, DeWine ordered U.S. and Ohio flags lowered to half-staff on public buildings/grounds in Ross County, the Ohio Statehouse, Vern Riffe Center, Rhodes Tower and all Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facilities "until sunset on the day of his funeral."