To the editor:
On Tuesday evening, Jan. 6, an electrical transformer exploded at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department Middleton Jail and House of Correction, resulting in a small fire but with extensive damage to the electrical system inside the 240-Building, our largest housing facility.
This caused the immediate evacuation of 407 inmates from four separate units, many of which, due to their classification status, should not interact with one another. This incident, a major safety and security concern for staff and inmates alike, demanded an immediate and collaborative response by not only those on shift that evening but also by those responding to our calls for assistance.
As Sheriff, I am proud to say that the officers and staff at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department did an exemplary job of maintaining safety and order at the facility amidst a very chaotic scene. Within just a few minutes, everyone was safely evacuated and relocated to other buildings within the campus. While things certainly could have been worse, only one minor injury was reported by an inmate who was treated at a local hospital and quickly released back to our custody.
The success that evening was a result of the professionalism, diligence, and commitment to duty as shown by our officers and staff. From the shift commander down to the junior officer on shift to those responding from home, everyone stepped up as needed, jumping into action without hesitation or doubt about what needed to be done. The Sheriff’s Department commitment to thinking “outside the box” by identifying problems before they occur, pre-planning for the unknown, and training its staff to respond safely and effectively to situations like what occurred on Jan. 6 was certainly reflected in the response by our officers and staff.
A special thank you also goes out to the Middleton Fire Department for their quick and effective actions in containing the explosion and fire.
I offer them all a heartfelt thank you for a job well done. They each deserve a tremendous amount of gratitude for dealing with a very difficult and potentially dangerous situation. And for the 34 communities that we serve, they can rest assured that the Essex County Sheriff’s Department will continue to serve them well.
Sincerely,
Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger
