Bowden Institution locked down after officer required medical aid

The Bowden Institution in central Alberta was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning afteran incident thatresulted in an officer needing medical help.

Theincident happened Monday,though Correctional Services Canada would not elaborate on what happened.

The officer was treatedforsymptomsand is now back at work, Jeff Campbell, regional communications manager, said in anemail.

The institution was placed on lockdown at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday to allow staff members to completean "exceptional search."

"The search was ordered to ensure the safety and security of the institution, its staff and inmates," according to astatement issued by Correctional Service Canada. "Normal operations will resume as soon as it is considered safe to do so."

The agency would not say what staff were searching for. But the statement said CSC is "committed to preventing the entry of contraband into its institutions" and that it"works in partnership with the police to take action against those who attempt to introduce contraband into correctional institutions."

Visits to the institution have been suspended until the search is completed.

The institution has both medium- and minimum-security inmates, who are housed in direct observation living units or residential houses.

As of November 2012, the institution had the capacity for 544 prisoners.