NYC jail guard union boss removed amid corruption charges

June 9, 2016 Associated Press

Norman Seabrook, center, president of the 9,000-member New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, is escorted from court on Wednesday in New York. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

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The longtime head of New York City’s jail guard union has been removed from his post following his arrest on federal corruption charges.

Union officials say Thursday that Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association bylaws dictate that only active correction officers can serve.

Norman Seabrook was suspended by the city Department of Correction and stripped of his badge and gun following his arrest Wednesday.

He’s been charged with funneling $20 million in union funds to a hedge fund via a middleman in exchange for a $60,000 kickback.

Seabrook’s former second-in-command is now the union president. Elias Husamudeen says he’s concerned and saddened but stresses that Seabrook is innocent unless proven otherwise.

Seabrook was the only candidate running in an upcoming union election. Officials didn’t say how his ouster will affect that race.