Earlier this month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Democratic) ordered the firing of more than a dozen prison employees in connection with the fatal assault of an inmate.
In a statement Saturday, Hochul asked the state Department of Corrections Commissioner to begin the process of terminating the 14 employees involved in the Dec. 9 incident at Oneida County’s Mercy Correctional Facility that led to the death of Robert Brooks, 43. He announced that he had given instructions. At the hospital the next day.
Brooks has been in prison since 2017, serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault.
The governor’s office said the decision was made after an internal review, but did not provide details about the circumstances that led to Brooks’ death.
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Earlier this month, New York Governor Cathy Hochul ordered the firing of more than a dozen prison workers over a fatal assault on an inmate. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“The vast majority of prison officers do an extraordinary job under difficult circumstances, and we are all grateful for their service,” Hochul said. “However, we will not tolerate individuals who cross the line, break the law, and engage in unnecessary violence or targeted abuse.”
The Department of Corrections provided a list of 13 employees, including correctional officers, sergeants and nurses, who have been suspended without pay. This included another prison officer who resigned.
State Department of Corrections Secretary Daniel Martucello III condemned the officers’ involvement and said the suspensions were “in the best interest of our department and the communities we serve.”
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The governor’s office said the decision was made after an internal review. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
“There is no place for brutality in our department, and we will vigorously pursue justice for the individuals who committed this senseless act,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press. “These investigations are ongoing and additional suspensions are possible.”
Brooks’ family said in a statement from his attorney that they were “incredibly shocked and saddened” by his death, according to the Albany Times Union.
“We are grateful that Governor Hochul is taking swift action to hold the police officers accountable, but we cannot understand how this happened in the first place,” the family said. “No one should lose a family member like this.”
Robert Brooks has been serving a 12-year prison sentence since 2017 for first-degree assault. (St. Petersburg)
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State Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said she was also investigating the use of force by correctional officers that led to Brooks’ death. She said staff has obtained video of the incident and it will be released after Brooks’ family views it.
“Law enforcement professionals must be held to the highest standards of accountability, and I am committed to providing New Yorkers with the transparency they deserve,” James said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
