officer to serve an inmate a meal. he wore very little protection. today, since attacks are commonplace and vicious, it takes three officers wearing full riot gear. >> when we feed breakfast, we have all the food in serving containers. and we put it on the trays, serve it to the inmate. >> anytime that you pop open the food port, you're vulnerable. there's an opening for the inmate to assault you. officers des moines brittenum and kevin walker, have worked in death row for a total of 12 years. they say they can never be too careful in there. >> an inmate may try to grab your arm, pull it into the cell so he can break it or stab it or, you know, cut it, slash it. >> there's been an instance where a spear was shot out at an officer when the food port was open.