12/25/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/26/2024 01:41
December 25, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media inquiries contact:
JoEllen Smith, [email protected]
Please see the following statement from Director Annette Chambers-Smith:
"It is with great sadness that I confirm the tragic death of Correction Officer Andrew Lansing following an inmate assault that occurred at Ross Correctional Institution this morning.
Officer Lansing is a long-time, well-respected employee at Ross, and his untimely death - on Christmas Day - is heartbreaking for his family, the entire Ross Correctional Institution family, and our agency as a whole. Officer Lansing was loved by his colleagues and known to be a great support for his fellow RCI staff. He was a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always a professional.
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. 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.
We ask that you keep Officer Lansing's family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers at this devastating and tragic time.
The Ross Correctional Institution is currently operating under restricted movement, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol's investigation is underway. The inmate suspect has been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility."