New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association
New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) has been monitoring the events …
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New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association
New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) has been monitoring the events surrounding the death of Robert L. Brooks, an incarcerated individual at Marcy Correctional Facility. Some members of our executive board were recently afforded the opportunity to review footage capturing a small portion of the incident. What we witnessed is incomprehensible to say the least and is certainly not reflective of the great work that the vast majority of our membership conducts every day.
Every single day, NYSCOPBA members working in correctional facilities face daunting odds and the very real possibility of encountering violence. This is a harsh, day-to-day reality that few other professionals experience. Yet the overwhelming majority of our members endure these challenges with the composure and professionalism that we demand of them, and that they demand of themselves.
However, what transpired at Marcy Correctional Facility is the opposite of everything NYSCOPBA and its membership stand for. When this footage is released to the public, [Editor’s note: this statement was received before the public release] it will undoubtedly draw comparisons to other high-profile incidents of violence involving law enforcement. This incident has the potential to make our correctional facilities even more violent, hostile and unpredictable than ever before. Our members will face heightened challenges as a result, and any efforts to improve their working conditions and quality of life will be overshadowed by this incident.
This incident not only endangers our entire membership but undermines the integrity of our profession. We cannot and will not condone this behavior.
NYSCOPBA recognizes its legal obligation to defend the collective bargaining agreement and to represent all of its members. We will fulfill that obligation. However, fulfilling this duty does not mean endorsing these actions.
Correctional Association of New York
The death of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility, and the release of the video showing the fatal assault by security officers that led to his death, is a watershed moment for New York State. This tragic incident has cast a harsh light on the grim realities of life within our state prisons, realities that have been documented by the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) for decades.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has taken swift action in response to this tragedy and her commitment to holding the individuals responsible for Mr. Brooks’s death accountable is a crucial first step. Furthermore, her willingness to bring comprehensive reform to the state’s prisons, including landmark investments in transparency and oversight, signals a true commitment to systemic change. The governor’s announcement today offers a glimmer of hope that we can begin to address the deeply entrenched problems that plague New York’s prisons.
We commend Gov. Hochul for her leadership and action. We urge the legislature to follow her lead by matching her investments in next year’s budget and enacting necessary changes in law. Together, we must bring transparency, accountability, and meaningful reform to New York’s state prisons.”
Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director
Correctional Association of New York
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