#NYC jail officers oust acting union president following Seabrook scandal

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Correction Officers Benevolent Association acting President Elias Husamudeen
Gregory P. Mango

The city’s acting correction union boss has been voted out in the first election since the group’s long-term ex-leader, Norman Seabrook, was convicted in a corruption scandal.

Members of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association elected Bonny Boscio in a landslide — an apparent repudiation of acting president Elias Husamadeen, who came in third.

Boscio netted 2,087 votes, while Albert Craig landed 971 and Husamadeen got just 815, according to the American Arbitration Association, which tallied the results on Saturday.

Husamadeen was vice-president when he took over the union in 2016 as interim president after Seabrook was convicted of accepting a $60,000 bribe in return for investing $20 million of COBA’s money in a hedge fund.

Seabrook had been president for 21 years.

“It’s the end of the Seabrook era,” said a source close to the union.

“WE WON! On behalf of the ENTIRE Boldest United Team, we are THANKFUL & GRATEFUL for the TREMENDOUS support of our Brother & Sister Officers,” Boscio said in a Facebook post.

Boscio said he’s committed to ensuring officers’ safety, protecting jobs, reducing needless discipline, boosting benefits and improving transparency involving union affairs.

“Come July 1st, we look forward to Restoring our Dignity & putting the BOLD back in the BOLDEST. THANK YOU so very much for STANDING with us & for your TRUST,” he said.

Boscio thanked both Husamadeen and Craig for their service to COBA, as well as the former executive board members.

But Boscio will face big challenges. Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council approved a plan to phase out jails on Rikers Island jails and replace them with four smaller, borough-based jails.

Now the new union leader may also have to confront potential layoffs because thanks to a sluggish economy triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Boscio was hired as a correction officer in 1999 and was named a COBA delegate representing the Bronx Detention Complex in 2005. He joined the union’s executive board in 2010.

Labor lawyer Arthur Schwartz monitored the election for the union and confirmed the results.