February 6, 2026 — On April 3, 2024, during a relatively normal day at Buffalo Psychiatric Center, three staff members—including one PEF member—were stabbed multiple times in an apparent premeditated and unprovoked attack by a patient. Staff members were attending to 34-year-old Calvin Haskins when he pulled knives hidden on his person to use in the attack.
PEF member Edward Gordon was among the victims. He suffered stab wounds to his abdomen, back and neck.
In the immediate hours after the attack, former PEF Region 1 Coordinator Michele Iorfida, then Buffalo PC Council Leader Vincent Cicatello (now Region 1 Coordinator), PEF President Wayne Spence and other union leaders visited Gordon in the hospital and met with PEF members at the center.
Haskins was arrested and arraigned on three counts of Assault in the First Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a weapon in the Fourth Degree. That later changed in November 2025 when Haskins pled guilty to two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the Second Degree.
At his sentencing hearing on Jan. 15, Haskins was given 20 years each for the Attempted Murder charges and seven years for the Assault charge. The charges will run concurrently, meaning Haskins will serve a maximum of 20 years in prison. He was also sentenced to five years of probation following his prison sentence.
Victims were given a chance to provide impact statements.
“This crime has impacted many aspects of my life. From getting out of bed to just trusting and believing in others,” said Gordon. “It’s robbed me of my optimism and the hope that I once so strongly cherished.”
Cicatello and Council Leader for Division 180 Dr. Alexandre Donascimento attended the hearing along with several PEF and CSEA members, the victims and their families. Cicatello said that while he believes the length of the sentence should be higher, he is happy with the outcome because the families are satisfied.
“The families feel like there is a sense of justice that he will be receiving the maximum sentence,” said Cicatello. “I am glad to see the result as long as the families feel that justice is served.”
Dr. Donascimento said that the incident has been top of mind for staff at Buffalo PC for almost two years and that while there is a sense of closure and justice, there is still more to be done.
“Buffalo Psychiatric Center has not forgotten the violence of that day, and this was evident from the packed courtroom as this community showed up to support and listen to the victims’ impact statements describing their ongoing physical and psychological recovery,” said Dr. Donascimento.
Following the incident, the Public Employee Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau conducted an inspection and investigation of Buffalo PC. On March 7, 2025, PESH delivered their findings to both the members at Buffalo PC and the Office of Mental Health (OMH). According to PESH, Buffalo PC had several violations and could be deemed responsible for a “willful serious violation.” Later, in October 2025, Buffalo Psychiatric underwent another investigation due to a lack of protection against patients carrying weapons into the facility. Following that investigation, at a meeting on January 15, 2026 —the same day as Calvin Haskins’ sentencing hearing—PESH reversed the willful serious violation designation but still held OMH and Buffalo PC to five “serious violations.”
It is unclear why PESH reversed their earlier finding, and PEF is meeting with them this month to get some answers. While Council Leader Donascimento was disappointed with the change, he is now looking to OMH to see what comes next.
“The facility was still cited for five serious violations,” said Donascimento. “OMH will need to have an approved plan to address them.”
The silver lining, said Donascimento, is that the serious violation designation means systemic improvements are now expected of OMH that should make Buffalo PC and all state-run Psychiatric Centers, safer to prevent incidents like the one on April 3, 2024.
“We know that violence should not be ‘part of the job’ when working in mental healthcare,” said Donascimento. “That’s what PEF’s ‘Working for New York State Shoudn’t Hurt Campaign’ is all about. Our work, however, is ongoing and we will always be ready to advocate for our members and colleagues, who deserve a safer workplace.”