NEW YORK — The governor of New York has mandated the dismissal of over a dozen prison employees following the violent death 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 staff members linked to the incident at the Marcy Correctional Facility.
Robert Brooks passed away on December 10 after an altercation with officers the previous day at the facility located in Oneida County.
While Hochul’s office has not disclosed specific details regarding the events leading to Brooks’ death, her decision was made following an internal investigation.
In a statement, she expressed gratitude for the hard work of correction officers under challenging conditions, but emphasized that there is zero tolerance for those who breach the law and engage in unwarranted violence or directed abuse.
On the same day, the corrections department released the names of 13 staff members—comprising correctional officers, sergeants, and a nurse—who have been placed on unpaid suspension, in addition to one officer who has resigned.
However, the agency refrained from providing further information about the incident, confirming only that Brooks was pronounced dead at a hospital in Utica in the early hours of December 10.
The 43-year-old inmate had been serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault since 2017, according to the department.
State Department of Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III condemned the actions of the involved employees, stating that the suspensions serve “in the best interest of the agency and the communities we serve.”
He emphasized that brutality has no place in the corrections department and reiterated a commitment to seeking justice against those responsible for what he termed a senseless act.
Martuscello also indicated that investigations are still ongoing, and further suspensions could be forthcoming.
The labor union that represents correctional officers has not yet issued a response to the situation.
In a statement, the family of Robert Brooks expressed their shock and sorrow regarding his death. They acknowledged Governor Hochul’s prompt actions to hold the officers accountable, but struggled to comprehend how such an event could occur.
They stated that losing a family member under these circumstances is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, New York Attorney General Letitia James has announced that her office is also conducting an investigation into the use of force by the correctional officers involved in Brooks’ death.
She confirmed that her team has obtained footage of the incident, which will be released publicly once Brooks’ family has had the opportunity to review it.
James asserted that law enforcement must uphold the highest accountability standards, and she pledged to ensure transparency for the public regarding this case.
