Three correction officers and a captain, [Respondents], wearing with helmets which had visors and side flaps, responded to an incident between another correction officer and an inmate. The appointing authority, relying on a video of the incident, alleged one of the Respondents punched the inmate "in retaliation for being spat upon," and charged the Respondents of having filed false reports concerning the incident by not reporting a "use of force."
At the disciplinary hearing Respondents testified that as they were escorting the inmate, he turned and spat at an officer. Two individuals who were beside the inmate "immediately took him down," causing the inmate's face to hit a row of chairs.
Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings Administrative Law Judge Ingrid M. Addison recommended dismissal of the disciplinary charges, finding that appointing authority’s evidence neither established that the inmate was struck by the other officer nor that Respondents witnessed a use of force which they failed to report.
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://archive.citylaw.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/oath/19_cases/19-2526.pdf