The deployment of National Guard members to prisons amid a corrections officers’ strike is straining law enforcement in Ontario and Wayne counties. According to 13WHAM-TV, three deputies from each county, who also serve in the Guard, have been called to duty leaving their posts temporarily vacant.
Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby warned that losing a female corrections officer could force the county to house female inmates elsewhere, increasing taxpayer costs. With already stretched staffing, he emphasized the added burden on officers covering shifts. Ontario County Sheriff David Cirencione noted that deputies felt unprepared for prison work but followed orders.
Both sheriffs questioned the effectiveness of the deployment and urged state officials to resolve the strike quickly to prevent further disruptions to local law enforcement.
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