Montville — Multiple correction officers sustained injuries Wednesday while breaking up a brawl among inmates housed in the gang unit at Corrigan Correctional Center.

The state Department of Correction, in a statement, confirmed “a fight involving multiple individuals, resulted in several correctional staff members receiving minor injuries. The altercation occurred inside the unit designated for individuals identified as gang members...” The inmates were participating in a special “disintegration” program for gang members.

One individual was treated at an outside hospital and returned to the facility, the DOC confirmed.

Michael Vargo, president of AFSCME Local 1565, which represents correction officers at Corrigan, released a statement saying the disturbance involved at least 14 inmates who are classified as a security risk group.

“Nine officers were injured trying to defuse the situation and restore order. This incident needs to serve as a call to action for the department to not only hire more front-line staff, but to fill vacant post positions,” Vargo said in a statement. “Staff shortages at Corrigan and facilities across the state are a serious threat to the safety and security of staff, offenders, and our communities.”

Department of Correction spokeswoman Ashley McCarthy, in response to the union statement, said: “We continue to be proactive in hiring new correction officers to ensure staffing levels are met on all shifts.”

Since Jan. 1, 2021, McCarthy said, 345 new correction officers have taken posts, with an additional 62 set to graduate in September 2022.

There were 608 prisoners housed at Corrigan in June, which was the latest number available from the state DOC. The prison used to be known as the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center. In 2021, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the planned closure of the medium-security Radgowski section of the prison as part of budget cuts and due to the decline in the prison population.

As of Thursday there have been no arrests associated with Wednesday’s fight but the incident remained under investigation, McCarthy said.