Two Brooklyn NYPD officers lose pay due to negligence related to body-worn camera usage.
Two officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) have faced disciplinary action for their failure to accurately categorize numerous encounters recorded on their body-worn cameras, according to official documents released by the department. Officers Aron Baksh and Berland Prince, who are assigned to the 78th Precinct in Brooklyn, each received a penalty resulting in a loss of five days’ pay due to their actions dating back to February 2022. The resolution of this case was notably delayed, primarily due to complications arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, both officers had the opportunity to accept a lesser command discipline; however, they chose to proceed to an administrative trial held at One Police Plaza in January. Although a department prosecutor recommended a penalty of 20 days’ pay for the violations associated with their body camera footage, NYPD trial judge Anne Stone ultimately reduced the penalty to a loss of five days’ pay upon finding them guilty. This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch in March.
Despite the lighter penalty, Judge Stone expressed concern over the officers’ conduct. The provided documentation indicates that Baksh and Prince disregarded multiple email notifications from their supervisors, which warned them of potential disciplinary consequences if they did not rectify their categorization errors. Specifically, Baksh failed to properly categorize videos on 48 occasions, while Prince did so 44 times, resorting instead to a method known as “bulk categorizing,” where they inaccurately labeled videos collectively—typically as “investigative encounters.”
Properly categorizing these videos is essential, as it ensures that the NYPD retains access to crucial footage during legal proceedings or lawsuits. For instance, investigative encounter footage must be preserved for 18 months, while arrest videos are required to be kept for five years. Moreover, videos related to homicide cases must be retained indefinitely, illustrating the importance of adherence to proper protocols.
During the proceedings, Baksh claimed he believed the emails did not pertain to him, while Prince expressed surprise at being included in the list of officers who needed corrective action. However, Judge Stone dismissed these explanations, indicating that if the officers were unclear about their duties, they should have sought clarification.
In addition to the current penalty, Baksh has faced previous disciplinary issues, resulting in the loss of an additional 27 days’ pay for offenses such as unauthorized security work and late arrivals to scheduled duties. Prince has lost 12 days’ pay for similar infractions. The department prosecutor had sought more severe repercussions, recommending probation and a 30-day unpaid suspension for both officers, yet it was noted that neither officer had prior disciplinary records.
This incident reflects ongoing challenges within the NYPD regarding adherence to procedural requirements, particularly in the context of body-worn camera usage, which has become increasingly scrutinized and regulated in recent years.
