A corrections officer at Rikers Island jumped to his death Friday after spending more than a decade of his life serving at New York City’s infamous prison.
Edward Roman, 38, leaped to his end from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge at around 6:30 a.m., police said.
He was pulled from the waters by the US Coast Guard and pronounced dead at Staten Island University Hospital.
“Correction Officer Roman was well-liked and respected by his fellow officers,” Correction Officers’ Association President Benny Boscio said. “He has his whole life and career ahead of him.”
“This tragedy is also a solemn reminder of the enormous stress correction officers face on a daily basis. The worsening condition in our jails doesn’t just affect the inmates.”
He continued: “Our officers go to work every day not knowing if they will return home the same way they left. They go to work every day not knowing if they will miss time with their loved ones because they are forced to work a double or triple shift.”
