Correction Officers' Benevolent Association Explained

COBA
Location Country:	United States
Affiliation:	DCNY
Members:	18000
Full Name:	Correction Officers' Benevolent Association
Founded:	1901^[1]
Key People:	Benny Boscio
Headquarters:	77-10 21st Avenue East Elmhurst, New York
Website:	http://www.cobanyc.org/

The Correction Officers' Benevolent Association (COBA) is the second largest trade union for law enforcement in New York. COBA is also the largest municipal jail union in the United States.^[2] It represents corrections staff within the New York City Department of Correction run by the New York City Department of Correction. It has a membership of 9000.

Noteworthy Decisions

• COBA was able to get personal protection equipment for their officers during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3]
• Criticized NYC Government for their reaction to COVID 19^[4]
• Fought to Bar Visitors to Rikers Island during COVID 19.^[5]
• President Benny Boscio, fought to maintain Solitary Confinement and keep Rikers Island Open as a jail.^[6]
• COBA endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008.^[7]
• Pushed through the "Feces Bill" which made it a felony to throw feces at a Corrections Officer.^[8]
• Key in getting corrections officers attaining parity with the NYPD and the FDNY in pay and benefits.^[9]

Presidents

Benny Boscio Jr. (2020 to Present)^[10]

Elias Husamudeen (ACTING PRESIDENT)(2016 to 2020)

Norman Seabrook (1995-2016) ^[2]

Stanley Israel (?-1995)^[11]

Phil Seelig (1979-?)^[12]

Donald J Cranston (1976-1977)^[13]

Harold Brown (1974-?)^[14]

Congressman Leo Zeferetti (1968-1974) ^[14]

John A. Martine (1966)^[15]

Stephen Hartigan^[16]

Other Leadership

Anthony S. Seminerio^[17]

References

1. Web site: Correction Officers' Benevolent Association Incorporated (COBA) | East Elmhurst, NY | Cause IQ profile. www.causeiq.com.
2. Web site: Norman Seabrook, President Of Correction Officers Benevolent Association, Sentenced To 58 Months In Prison For Accepting Bribes In Exchange For Investing Union Money In New York-Based Hedge Fund. February 8, 2019. www.justice.gov.
3. Web site: Correction officers union settles suit with NYC for coronavirus testing sites, masks. Chelsia Rose. Marcius. nydailynews.com. 16 April 2020 .
4. Web site: New COBA President Challenges 'Revolving Door' Justice, Poor Response to COVID-19 Crisis – LaborPress.
5. Web site: Union: NYC Jails Should be Barred to Visitors Amid Coronavirus Outbreak. spectrumlocalnews.com.
6. Web site: New Leader for Correction Officers Wants to Keep Rikers. www.ny1.com.
7. Web site: The Power and Politics of Norman Seabrook's COBA. The New York Observer. June 13, 2016.
8. Web site: After SDNY Sentencing Norman Seabrook Tells Inner City Press YouTube is Doctored but Here It is.
9. News: Norman Seabrook Was Once a Union PowerBroker in New York. Now He is Going to Prison. The New York Times. 8 February 2019. Weiser. Benjamin. Greenberg. Zoe.
10. Web site: NYC jail officers oust acting union president following Seabrook scandal. Carl. Campanile. June 28, 2020.
11. Web site: UNION BIG'S MERRY WIDOW FINDS HUSBAND'S $2M CACHE. Al. Guart. July 2, 2000.
12. Web site: Digging Out of Mess in NY's 'Toughest Precinct'. RICHARD. STEIER. The Chief.
13. Web site: cranston. www.correctionhistory.org.
14. Web site: NYC DOC newsltr Inside Out 1982 March Page 4. www.correctionhistory.org.
15. Web site: 1966-COBA-News-Feb-Vol-2-No-1. www.correctionhistory.org.
16. Web site: Solidarity Behind Bars: NYC's Correction Officers' Benevolent Association. Jarrod. Shanahan. September 7, 2017. The Brooklyn Rail.
17. http://www.queensnewyork.com/elections/assembly/seminerio.html

External links

• COBA official site.