Twelve Dannemora Prison Workers Placed on Leave

A dozen Clinton Correctional Facility employees have been placed on administrative leave in the aftermath of the escape of David Sweat and Richard Matt.

The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced the action Tuesday morning.

Steven Racette, the superintendent of the maximum-security Dannemora prison, is among those put on leave. Racette and two other members of the prison executive team will be off the job until further notice.

State and federal investigations have been launched following the June 6 prison break.

Richard Matt was shot and killed last Friday. David Sweat is hospitalized at Albany Medical Center after he was shot twice by a state police sergeant on Sunday.

The Adirondack Daily Enterprise reported Racette's wife said the superintendent had been given the choice of being demoted or retiring. The newspaper said his wife indicated he intends to retire.