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NEW YORK (AP) — In a decisive move, the governor of New York has mandated the dismissal of over a dozen prison staff members following the fatal beating of an inmate earlier this month.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Saturday that she has instructed the state’s corrections department commissioner to initiate the termination process for 14 individuals connected to the deadly incident at Marcy Correctional Facility.
Robert Brooks, an inmate, passed away on December 10 after an encounter with correctional officers the previous day at the facility located in Oneida County.
While Hochul’s office did not disclose specific details surrounding Brooks’ death, it indicated that the governor’s decision stemmed from an internal review.
In her statement, Hochul acknowledged the challenging conditions most correction officers work under but asserted, “We have no tolerance for individuals who cross the line, break the law and engage in unnecessary violence or targeted abuse.”
On the same day, the corrections department released a list of 13 individuals, which included correctional officers, sergeants, and a nurse, who have been suspended without pay, alongside another officer who has resigned.
However, the department refrained from providing further specifics about the incident, confirming only that Brooks was declared dead at a hospital in Utica shortly after midnight on December 10.
At 43 years old, Brooks had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017, according to corrections department records.
Daniel Martuscello III, the state’s Department of Corrections Commissioner, condemned the staff’s actions, stating that the suspensions serve the best interests of the agency and the community. “There is no place for brutality in our department,” he declared, emphasizing that justice will be pursued against those responsible for this tragic incident.
The union representing correctional officers has yet to issue a statement regarding the situation.
Brooks’ family expressed their shock and sorrow over his death in a statement released by their attorney. They conveyed gratitude towards Governor Hochul’s swift response to hold the officers accountable but expressed their bewilderment over how such an occurrence could have transpired. “No one should have to lose a family member this way,” they stated, as reported by The Times-Union in Albany.
Additionally, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her office’s investigation into the use of force by the correction officers that culminated in Brooks’ death. She assured that her team has obtained video evidence of the incident, which will be shared with Brooks’ family before it is released to the public.
“Law enforcement professionals must be held to the highest standards of accountability,” James remarked, reaffirming her commitment to ensuring transparency for the citizens of New York.
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