My dad works for the prison, not as a guard, but as a steamfitter. I have never worried about his safety on the job and he has several inmates working under him. However, if the CO's were walking around with pistols on their hips I think I would worry. He's witnessed first-hand...several times...an inmate QUICKLY take down a CO, even if just temporarily. Some of those inmates spend a lot of time watching the CO's and learning their body language and they know when the CO's can be caught off guard. Even the "best" CO's. Of course I fully support the SWAT and guard tower officers being armed, but for the CO's that are working in close proximity to the inmates, I just don't think it would be a great idea. Just my two cents.
