By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
DICKINSON, N.Y. — Two officers have been suspended without pay, and one has been charged, following an investigation into the use of force during an incident with an inmate at the Broome County Correctional Facility, according to a release from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 23, correctional officers responded to an inmate at the county jail who had threatened suicide and refused to enter his cell, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. The sheriff stated that the inmate was escorted to the medical housing unit in accordance with standard policy and procedure.
A video of the incident released by the sheriff’s office shows one corrections officer forcibly escorting the inmate to the lobby of the medical unit. Another officer is seen striking the inmate before placing a “gooseneck” wrist restraint on him while he was seated and handcuffed.
“The physical force utilized was deemed to be unnecessary and contrary to office policy and Article 35 of the New York State Penal Law that dictates when force is authorized to be used by corrections officers,” the sheriff’s office said.
A 39-year-old corrections officer was charged with official misconduct and harassment in the second degree. The officer who was charged, along with a second officer involved in the incident, was suspended without pay while the investigation and disciplinary process were under review.
The sheriff’s office said all correctional facility staff will undergo formal training on use of force, de-escalation and duty to intervene.
“We pledged to be open, honest and transparent with the people of this community, and for 19 months, we’ve fortunately had nothing but good news to report,” said Sheriff Akshar. “Going forward, the men and women of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard every day. As much as it pains me to report on an incident when two of our officers failed to meet that standard, when someone does something wrong, we must take every appropriate measure to do what’s right.”
