A corrections officer at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, has been killed in a horrifying inmate assault on Christmas Day.
Corrections Officer Andrew Lansing lost his life leaving the institution reeling and plunging Lansing’s family, friends, and colleagues into unimaginable grief.
‘It is with great sadness that I confirm the tragic death of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing,’ Director Annette Chambers-Smith of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction announced, noting how Lansing was a respected and admired figure in the correctional community.
‘Officer Lansing is a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross, and his untimely death is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole,’ she added.
The assault occurred during Lansing’s shift on Christmas Day, a time when most of his co-workers were celebrating with family and loved ones.
Instead, Lansing found himself confronting the dangers inherent in his line of work – and a risk he had accepted as part of his duty to protect and serve.
‘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 added.
Lansing, a seasoned and well-regarded member of the Ross Correctional Institution team, was known for his dedication and professionalism.
‘He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional,’ Chambers-Smith said. ‘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.
‘We ask that you keep Officer Lansing’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time,’ she added.
The Ross Correctional Institution is now under restricted movement, and an investigation is underway by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The inmate involved in the assault has also been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.
On his LinkedIn page Lansing was seen to have worked as a correctional officer for more than 20 years and took the job seriously.
‘Throughout my greater than twenty years of experience I have worked hard to improve myself through training, experience, and education. I am always willing to go the extra mile and am unwilling to accept anything but my best from myself,’ he wrote.
‘I am punctual, always meet deadlines, and keep to a schedule. I am flexible, calm under pressure, and able to make decisions quickly,’ he explained in a personal statement.
As news of Lansing’s death spread, there was an outpouring of grief online by those who knew him.
‘When I think of hiring into RCI at 19 years old I think of Andrew Lansing. He was a mentor to all of us. Rest easy big dawg,’ wrote Miranda Joseph.
‘And on Christmas Day. Rest in peace Andrew Lansing. I am praying hard for his family and the correctional officers. Andy was always the first to like or comment on posts I made about Charlie. He was such a sweet guy,’ stated Christina Woods.
‘As the daughter of a retired CO and the wife of a prison chaplain. this breaks my heart. Praying for all of his family, friends, and coworkers,’ added Rhonda Marcus.
Lansing’s death comes just only a few months after another corrections officer was killed during a training exercise.
Lt. Rodney Osborne from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was killed during a training exercise in April.
