OAK PARK HEIGHTS, Minn. - A corrections officer at Minnesota's Oak Park Heights prison has died following a medical emergency after helping a fellow guard who was attacked by an inmate.
An inmate "repeatedly punched a corrections officer in the face at noon Monday" at Oak Park Heights, according to AFSCME Council 5. A source tells KARE 11 News that Officer Joseph Parise helped restrain the inmate.
When the situation was under control, Parise returned to his post. There, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, he suffered a medical emergency and died.
Parise worked for the DOC for four years, and was 37 years old.
Corrections Officer Derek Magle, the vice president of AFSCME Local 915 at Oak Park Heights, said Parise was a U.S. Navy veteran who served on the OPH honor guard, and a loving husband and father. Magle described Parise as a very caring man.
“He’s always fun, charismatic, positive,” said Corrections Officer Derek Magle, vice president of AFSCME Local 915 at Oak Park Heights. “He always worried about other staff before he worried about himself. When you were having issues, he would reach out to try to help.”
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to Officer Parise’s family, friends, and all of his fellow officers," DOC spokesperson Sarah Fitzgerald said on Monday. "This is a very difficult day for our Oak Park Heights officers and employees, and our entire department. We are deeply saddened by today’s events."
Fitzgerald said the DOC is investigating and the cause of death has not been determined. Oak Park Heights is on lockdown. AFSCME is calling for more staffing and that offenders who assault staff be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
The family of Joseph Gomm, the corrections officer murdered in July at Stillwater State Prison, also released a statement of support for Parise's family.
“Regarding the tragedy at Oak Park Heights today, whenever a correctional officer passes on the job, regardless of the circumstances, we consider it a great loss to the family of correctional officers. We are hopeful those responsible will be prosecuted aggressively. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Officer Parise and his family,” read the Gomm family statement.
According to AFSCME Council 5, Oak Park Heights correctional officers have set up a GoFundMe to help Parise's family.
