New York Attorney General Letitia James has made public body-worn camera footage related to the death of Robert Brooks. The release is part of an ongoing investigation into Brooks' death following an encounter with officers from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision at Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County.
Robert Brooks was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility to Marcy Correctional Facility on December 9, 2024. During this transfer, Brooks, who was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, was taken to a medical examination room where the events captured in the video occurred. He was later transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead in the early hours of December 10.
The Office of Special Investigation (OSI) within the Attorney General’s Office released footage from body-worn cameras used by four correction officers involved in the incident. This includes both full-length videos and edited versions showing only interactions between Mr. Brooks and the officers. This action aligns with Attorney General James’ directive for transparency by making camera footage obtained during OSI investigations available to the public.
According to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI evaluates incidents where police or peace officers, including corrections officers, might have caused a person's death through action or omission. This evaluation considers whether the officer was on-duty or off-duty and if the deceased was armed or unarmed, as well as their custody status. If it appears an officer may have caused a death, OSI conducts a thorough investigation.
The release of this footage does not imply any opinion regarding guilt or innocence in any criminal matter nor does it suggest how or whether any individual might be charged with a crime.
"Warning: This video contains content that viewers may find disturbing."