ITHACA, N.Y. — A former Tompkins County Corrections Officer has been charged with official misconduct and harassment after unnecessarily striking an incarcerated person on April 26.
Mark Vanderhoof was charged with both counts by Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, who issued a press release about the incident. Vanderhoof was arraigned Monday evening and released on his own recognizance.
Osborne stated that Vanderhoof was alleged to have “forcefully struck an incarcerated individual housed in the Corrections Division in the back of the head and face with an open hand” as the person was sitting at a table in their housing unit.
“The physical force utilized was deemed to be unjustified 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,” Osborne said.
Osborne said Vanderhoof had just been hired from the state’s Department of Corrections two weeks prior to the incident, meaning he was a probationary Corrections Officer when he was “immediately terminated” after the incident.
The case has been reported to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services and the state’s Attorney General office.
District Attorney Matt Van Houten said the case information has not been sent to him yet, so he could not comment on whether further charges would be filed.
“The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to providing fair, equitable, humane and restorative services to the incarcerated population housed at the Tompkins County Jail,” Osborne said. “Behavior contrary to these standards is not tolerated.”
It is unclear if the union representing Tompkins County Corrections Officers would be defending Vanderhoof considering he was a probationary employee when he was terminated. The union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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