Governor of New York Cathy Hochul, The Democrat ordered the firing of more than a dozen prison employees in connection with the fatal beating of an inmate earlier this month.
Hochul said in a statement Saturday that she has directed the commissioner of the state Department of Corrections to begin the process of terminating 14 workers involved in a Dec. 9 incident at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County that led to the death of 43-year-old Robert Brooks. The next day in the hospital.
Brooks had been in prison since 2017 and was serving a 12-year sentence Assault in the first degree.
The governor's office said the decision came after an internal review, but did not provide details on the circumstances that led to Brooks' death.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered the firing of more than a dozen prison employees over the fatal beating of an inmate earlier this month. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“The vast majority of correctional officers do an exceptional job under difficult circumstances, and we are all grateful for their service,” Hochul said. “But we do not tolerate individuals who cross boundaries, violate the law, and engage in unnecessary violence or targeted abuses.”
The Department of Corrections provided a list of 13 employees, including corrections officers, sergeants and a nurse, who have been suspended without pay. It also included another corrections officer who resigned.
Daniel Martosello III, the State Department's corrections commissioner, condemned the employees' involvement and said the suspensions “are in the best interest of the agency and the communities we serve.”
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The governor's office said the decision came after an internal review. (John Lambarski/Getty Images)
“There is no place for brutality in our department and we will aggressively pursue justice against the individuals who committed this senseless act,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press. He added: “These investigations are ongoing and additional suspensions may be issued.”
Brooks' family said in a statement from their lawyer that they were “incredibly shocked and saddened” by the death, according to what was reported by Reuters. Times Union of Albany.
“We are grateful that Governor Hochul took quick action to hold the officers accountable, but we cannot understand how this happened in the first place,” the family said. “No one should lose a loved one this way.”
Robert Brooks has been in prison since 2017, serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault. (Istock)
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State Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said her office is also investigating previous uses of force Correctional officers Which led to Brooks' death. She said her staff has obtained video of the incident and will be released after Brooks' family views it.
“Law enforcement 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.
