New Warden Assigned To Garner Correctional

By Andrew Gorosko

James Dzurenda has been named the new warden of Garner Correctional Institution on Nunnawauk Road, replacing Warden Giovanny Gomez, who has headed the high-security prison for the past six years.

Warden Gomez and state Department of Correction (DOC) District Administrator Mark Strange introduced Warden Dzurenda to members of the Public Safety Committee for Garner Correctional Institution at an April 12 session.

Warden Dzurenda is the fourth man to serve as warden at Garner since it opened in November 1992. On April 12, the prison held 635 inmates, 525 of whom are categorized as mental health inmates, plus 110 general population prisoners.

Most recently, Warden Dzurenda headed Cheshire Correctional Institution.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, who heads the public safety panel, said the changing wardenship at Garner marks a “happy and sad day.” The town is happy to welcome a new warden to the prison, but also sad to have Warden Gomez depart, Mr Rosenthal said.

Warden Gomez will now head the DOC’s Brooklyn Correctional Institution in northeastern Connecticut.

Mr Rosenthal lauded Warden Gomez’s work at Garner since 1999.

The town has had a good relationship with the DOC, save for the period immediately after Garner’s opening, the first selectman noted.

In its first year of operation, Garner experienced a prison riot. It also had a nighttime escape of two inmates. The DOC later heightened security to forestall such incidents.

Warden Gomez said that Warden Dzurenda will work well with safety committee members. The panel, which is comprised of town residents and DOC representatives, meets quarterly to maintain lines of communication between the DOC and the town.

Warden Dzurenda will focus his efforts on inmate programs while working at Garner. During the past year, Garner has become the DOC’s prime prison for inmates with mental health disorders.

Warden Gomez said the DOC has almost completed the consolidation of its mental health treatment facilities at Garner.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe asked about Warden Dzurenda’s experience in working with a similar public safety committee in Cheshire.

The warden responded he hopes to continue the cordial relations with the Newtown panel that he had with the Cheshire unit.

Warden Dzurenda, who takes over command of Garner on April 15, joined the DOC in 1987 as a correction officer at the Bridgeport Correctional Center. He became a lieutenant in 1991, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1993.

In 1995, Warden Dzurenda became a major and was assigned to the New Haven Correctional Center. In 2002, Warden Dzurenda became the warden at Webster Correctional Institution, later becoming the warden at the high-security Cheshire Correctional Institution.