New York City Correction Officer disciplined for spraying chemical agents at a person in custody

New York City New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings [OATH] Administrative Law Judge [ALJ] Michael D. Turilli recommended a 10-day suspension for a correction officer [Respondent] charged with excessive force for spraying chemical agents at a person in custody. 

Respondent had deployed chemical agents after the person in custody, who was secured in a recreation yard pen, began urinating in the direction of a captain and other officers. The person in custody then attempted to spit at Respondent, and Respondent sprayed the chemical agents at the person in custody two more times.

The ALJ determined Respondent’s three successive sprays of chemical agents were unreasonable because there were practical alternatives available, such as maintaining a safe distance and awaiting instructions from her captain.

Noting that the Department's Disciplinary Guidelines provide for a 10-day minimum suspension for the first substantive use of force violation, Judge Turilli found the Department’s request for a 20-day suspension to be excessive.

Given that Respondent had no prior record of use of force violations and there was no evidence of concealment or deception by Respondent or of injury to the person in custody, the ALJ found no reason to deviate from Disciplinary Guidelines and so recommended to the appointing authority, Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.

Click HERE to access Judge Turilli's decision and recommendation posted on the Internet.