In regard to the tragic demise of the inmate, Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, has issued a statement highlighting the urgency for authorities to swiftly bring forth criminal charges. Governor Hochul emphasized the need for those responsible for Mr. Brooks’ untimely death to face the full extent of legal consequences, stating, “This reprehensible act of violence demands the full force of our justice system — the family of Mr. Brooks deserves no further delays.” However, a spokesperson for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association did not provide immediate comments when reached out for a response on Wednesday. The union had previously condemned the behavior of the officers involved, captured on video, as “reprehensible” and not representative of the commendable work carried out by the majority of the union’s members on a daily basis.
At the time of his passing, Mr. Brooks, aged 43, was serving a 12-year sentence for first-degree assault before being transferred to Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County. New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed these details during a press conference following the incident. Notably, the officers engaged in the altercation had failed to activate their body cameras, resulting in no audio recording and only 30 minutes of video footage captured while the devices were in standby mode. Attorney General James released multiple videos from the officers’ cameras depicting the altercation.
One of the videos displays Mr. Brooks, with his hands restrained behind his back, being carried into a medical examination room upside down at the facility. The interactions between Brooks and the officers remain unclear in the footage, with varying angles providing inconsistent views of the events transpiring in the room. Another video shows officers repeatedly striking Brooks while he is still in handcuffs, with one officer seen lifting him by his neck and forcefully slamming him onto a bed.
In response to the disturbing incident, Governor Hochul took action by instructing the state Department of Corrections to initiate termination procedures for 14 corrections officers, sergeants, and a nurse at Marcy. The individuals involved were publicly named and subsequently suspended without pay, except for one officer who had already resigned. The status of the remaining personnel was not immediately disclosed. Commissioner of the Corrections Department, Daniel Martuscello, emphasized the need for an investigation to drive institutional reform, condemning the unjust act that led to Brooks’ tragic death.
Furthermore, a civil complaint filed in federal district court in New York by Brooks’ estate accused 17 individuals of employing excessive force and made additional allegations in connection to the incident. Damages were not specified in the lawsuit, and no legal representation has been disclosed for the defendants who are yet to respond to the allegations.
