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COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO ON STREET SOLDIERS ON FOX 5 NY

COBA President Benny Boscio was featured as part of an in-depth interview with FOX5NY & Hot 97’s Lisa Evers. In the interview, President Boscio discussed the condition of Riker’s Island and noted the “eight years of neglect” from the prior administration as the reasoning behind heightened tensions at the jail. He noted that lack of instructors, rise of violence and assault on correctional officers and inmates, discussing how inmates have been empowered and emboldened by lack of support. “We’ve been set up to fail,” he said to Lisa Evers, discussing the changes to gang policies under the new commissioner. Increased need for staffing and officers at Rikers Island was named as a solution for some of the problems at the jail, but President Boscio noted withdrawal of support and advocacy and a lack of resources as part of creating a dangerous situation for officers and inmates.

LETTER FROM BENNY BOSCIO
President

Welcome to the official website of The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association (COBA). COBA is the second-largest law enforcement union in the City of New York. Our members are New York City Correction Officers, also known as New York City’s Boldest, who supervise the second-largest municipal jail system in the nation. COBA is committed to advocating for safer working conditions, wage increases, and excellent benefits for all our members.

Our website was designed to provide helpful information on the latest issues impacting our members and their families. You can also find our official union publications, news clips, and learn about upcoming events.

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STATEMENT FROM COBA PRESIDENT BENNY BOSCIO ON THE FEDERAL MONITOR'S SPECIAL REPORT RELEASED ON MAY 26, 2023

“After being appointed nearly 8 yrs ago and receiving some $20 million in consulting fees by NYC taxpayers, the latest Federal Monitor’s biased and one-sided “special report” is no different than the nearly 36 reports that came before it.

If the Monitor is interested in cherry picking data in a two week period, why then does he exclude the brazen assaults on our officers committed by repeat violent offenders in that same period? Or why does he exclude the numbers of inmates whose lives have been saved thanks to Correction Officers? The reality is that the Federal Monitor and his team have strayed very far from their original mission and this new report conveniently excludes key data showing any progress that is being made to combat jail violence, which is largely the result of the dedication and hard work of our officers serving on the frontlines.

These reports now serve only to provide politically-driven talking points for the City Council and the Board of Correction so they can continue to second guess and scapegoat our members, instead of providing oversight over the monitoring team and asking them what have they really accomplished in eight years to make our jails safer? It’s time for the Monitoring team to go!’

Benny Boscio
COBA President