2,000 Police Officers Who Participated In Strike Over The Incarceration Death Of Robert Brooks Are Fired & Barred From Public Jobs 

More than 2,000 state prison officers in New York were fired after failing to return to work following three weeks of unauthorized strikes, Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday. These officers, unlike 5,000 of their colleagues who resumed work before a set deadline, will be barred from future state and local civil service jobs. “Today, we can finally say this work stoppage is over and move forward towards making our prisons safer for all,” Hochul stated.

The strikes, which affected nearly all of New York’s prisons, ended after an agreement requiring 85% of officers to return by Monday morning. Although this threshold was not met, Hochul declared the strike over and signed an executive order enforcing the dismissals. She cited a civil service law provision allowing the disqualification of individuals dismissed for misconduct.

The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the union representing the officers, did not authorize the strikes and declined to comment on the situation. The work stoppage, which started in mid-February, significantly impacted staffing levels. Before the strike, approximately 13,500 officers were employed; now, around 10,000 remain. To maintain order, 6,000 National Guard troops deployed during the strikes will continue in support roles for an unspecified period.

Officers cited severe staffing shortages, excessive forced overtime, and dangerous working conditions as reasons for the strike. A key issue was the HALT Act, which limits solitary confinement. Strikers argued that it endangered both officers and incarcerated individuals by preventing the isolation of violent inmates. As part of the agreement to end the strike, some HALT Act provisions will be suspended for 90 days and reassessed.

The Legal Aid Society criticized the agreement, arguing that its “vague terms” might lead to “a boundless and illegal circumvention of critical legal protections for incarcerated New Yorkers.” The organization threatened legal action to ensure compliance with the law.

The strikes coincided with the criminal charges of 10 corrections officers—six for murder—following the December beating death of inmate Robert Brooks. Additionally, at least nine prisoners died during the strike, including Messiah Nantwi, whose death is under investigation. Hochul described early findings as “extremely disturbing.”

Link: NY Times