A guard at Rikers Island was attacked by inmates for the second time in a week.
Officials say two inmates punched and splashed cleaning chemicals on the guard's face on Thursday — leaving him with second and third degree burns.
The guard was treated at a hospital and released.
The president of the city's Correction Officers Benevolent Association says violence is rising and that city leaders need to do more to protect guards.
In a statement, he said in-part:
"Commissioner Ponte keeps talking about declining violence as a result of reforms under his leadership, yet here we are talking about the second vicious attack on a Correction Officer at Rikers Island in less than a week," said COBA President Norman Seabrook.
"You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts, the numbers don't lie."
The Department of Correction responded saying:
“Commissioner Ponte has zero tolerance for assaults on staff, and the inmates involved in this outrageous attack have been re-arrested. An investigation is ongoing.”
Last week in a separate incident, two inmates held down a guard and slashed him across face.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and corrections officers plan to rally at City Hall Sunday afternoon calling for more measures to protect guards.