A 27-year-old Texas correctional officer died while helping other officers restrain an inmate at a Houston County facility.
Officer Jovian Motley died on Nov. 13 at the Wainwright Unit in Lovelady, Texas, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) announced on Tuesday. Mr. Motley had joined the agency in October 2022.
“Officer Motley was a hero who tragically died while protecting his fellow officers and the public,” TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier said in a statement. “His courage and dedication will forever be remembered. We are praying for his family, friends, and co-workers during this difficult time.”
During a press conference, Mr. Motley’s mother, Tammica Motley, said she was told her son died during an “incident” while working with four others on an extraction team to remove an inmate from a cell. Extraction team members are typically dressed in full riot gear due to the risk of violence.
However, the events leading up to Mr. Motley’s death are not fully known.
“We’ve got conflicting stories,” Ms. Motley told reporters. “Some said he was the first one in, and to my understanding, the first one is the shield person. And the shield person is just there to create a barrier.
“So, if that’s the case, there’s four other guys stacked behind him. So, at the point that he went down, what [were] the other four doing?”
The grieving mother said the officers were sent into a dark cell.
“I understand they couldn’t see their hands in front of them — that’s how dark it was,” she continued. “In my opinion, they should have never been called into that cell.”
She said the officers had tried to subdue the inmate with pepper spray, but it did not work.
“At this point, if he was unruly, keep him in the cell. No one had to go in. My son would still be here,” Ms. Motley said. “A bad call was made, and it cost him his life.”
Overworked and Understaffed
On the night Mr. Motley died, he was working a double shift, according to his mom.Ms. Motley said her son’s girlfriend called her on Monday night to inform her that an incident involving Mr. Motley may have occurred at the prison unit where he was employed.
When she could not get answers from TDCJ, she and her husband drove to the unit, where it was confirmed that her son had died.
Ms. Motley told reporters that her son had no health issues and that he was “healthy as an ox.”
Texas prisons have faced years of severe staffing shortages and high turnover rates, placing workers at a greater security risk.
“The agency is operating at critical staffing levels and ensures all efforts and available resources are being utilized to recruit and retain correctional staff,” according to TDCJ’s Self-Evaluation Report released on Aug. 31.
“Continued low staffing levels present greater security risks for those working within the facilities, and in turn, for the public.”
The Wainwright Unit has 297 security officers and more than 2,100 inmates, according to TDCJ’s website.
“They are overworked, and there’s not enough manpower,” Ms. Motley said.
She said she had asked her son to transfer to another prison with more staffing, but he loved his job and wanted to stay put.
“He said, ‘I feel like I’m going to learn everything I need here. I feel like this is where I need to learn,’” Ms. Motley continued.
The agency said it will never forget the sacrifice Mr. Motley made while serving his community.
“Officer Motley demonstrated unwavering commitment to serving his community and gave his life for others,” TDCJ Chairman Eric Nichols said in a statement. “His sacrifice is a solemn reminder of the bravery exhibited every day by the men and women in corrections. He will never be forgotten.”
