Arizona Prison Officers’ Union Seeks Thornell’s Removal

Carlos Garcia, head of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association, called on Gov. Katie Hobbs to remove Arizona Department of Corrections Director Ryan Thornell and his senior staff. The union also wants the state to halt its criminal investigation into who leaked prison videos and to end a policy that can place inmates in less secure units than their custody status would otherwise require.

Garcia said the policy contributes to violence by mixing inmates he considers incompatible. The union presented videos and images showing attacks and their aftermath, including footage of an officer being assaulted. Garcia said inmates had also approached him with concerns about safety.

Department statistics show inmate-on-inmate assaults rose from 1,436 in fiscal 2023 to 3,605 in fiscal 2026. Inmate assaults on staff increased from 426 to 724 before falling to 528 in fiscal 2026. Staff injuries rose from 38 to 78 over the same period.

Thornell accused Garcia of making misleading claims and said the union leader’s rhetoric threatened safety. The department said violence in October was at its lowest level since early 2023, citing hiring, security changes and other reforms. Hobbs’ spokeswoman said the governor stands by Thornell and will not meet the union’s demand to fire him.

Arizona Officers Warn of Rising Prison Violence as Hobbs Backs Director

Arizona’s prison officers are warning that violence is putting staff and inmates at risk, and the union says the state’s leadership must answer for it. Carlos Garcia, who leads the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association, called on Gov. Katie Hobbs to fire corrections director Ryan Thornell and his senior staff, stop investigating leaks of prison footage and end inmate security overrides.

The union says overrides can place volatile inmates in less secure units, exposing people to danger. Videos and images presented by Garcia showed attacks and their aftermath. State figures show inmate-on-inmate assaults climbed from 1,436 in fiscal 2023 to 3,605 in fiscal 2026. Staff injuries rose from 38 to 78 during that span, even as inmate assaults on staff fell from 724 to 528 in the latest year.

Hobbs’ spokeswoman rejected the union’s demand to fire Thornell and said the governor remains confident in his leadership. The department points to hiring and security reforms and says October violence was at its lowest level since early 2023. But assurances of progress do not erase the union’s demand for accountability over the policy and the investigation Garcia says chills exposure of abuse.

Arizona Prison Department Defends Reforms Against Union’s Charges

Arizona’s corrections department says it is pursuing measurable safety improvements, even as the officers’ union presses Gov. Katie Hobbs to remove Director Ryan Thornell. Union leader Carlos Garcia is demanding Thornell and senior staff be fired, the investigation into leaked videos be stopped and inmate security overrides be ended.

The department says reforms include hiring hundreds of officers, improving security and adding oversight in high-risk areas. It said violence in October reached its lowest level since early 2023. Hobbs’ spokeswoman said the governor supports Thornell and will not grant the union’s demand for his dismissal.

Garcia argues that inmate overrides can put violent prisoners in less secure units and contribute to attacks. Department figures do show inmate-on-inmate assaults rose to 3,605 in fiscal 2026, from 1,436 in fiscal 2023. But inmate assaults on staff declined from 724 to 528 in the latest fiscal year, and the department says its current efforts are producing progress.

Thornell accused Garcia of spreading false and sensational claims that could undermine safety. The department says decisions should rest on evidence and thorough investigations. The dispute puts the union’s allegations and demands against the administration’s defense of its reforms and its refusal to replace the director.