Council Calls for Critical-Incident Administrative Leave Standards Following In-Custody Death of…

Accountability and clear procedures are essential when serious incidents occur within correctional facilities.The Council adopted a resolution calling on the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department to adopt critical-incident administrative leave standards following in-custody deaths involving the use of force.

The resolution concerns the December 8, 2025 death of Shacoby Kenny following an altercation and physical restraint involving correctional officers at the Suffolk County House of Correction. The resolution notes that the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined the manner of Mr. Kenny's death to be a homicide and that the cause of death involved physical restraint by correction officers. The resolution also notes that this determination does not determine criminal liability and that the Attorney General's criminal investigation remains ongoing.

The resolution calls for clear written standards governing the status of correctional personnel involved in critical incidents, including administrative leave, administrative reassignment, investigation procedures, detainee contact, and return-to-duty decisions. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining transparent processes that support accountability while respecting due process and collective bargaining requirements.

The Council called on the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department to immediately adopt and apply critical-incident administrative leave standards following in-custody deaths involving the use of force and to review the duty status of personnel directly involved in such incidents.