After Lindenhurst CVS Killing, Lawmakers Push Bill Requiring Faster Release Of Surveillance Footage

LINDENHURST, NY — In the aftermath of the Christmas Day killing of CVS employee Edeedson “Joshy” Ciné Jr., a new bill introduced in the New York State Assembly aims to fundamentally change how businesses respond when violent crimes occur on their premises — and how quickly critical surveillance footage reaches law enforcement.

The proposed legislation, formally titled the Edeedson “Joshy” Ciné Jr. Transparency Act, was introduced earlier this month by Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow, of District 11. The bill would require businesses that possess surveillance footage relevant to a felony believed to have occurred on their property to immediately release that footage to law enforcement upon receipt of a formal written request.

O’Pharrow said the bill was prompted by what he described as a clear breakdown exposed during the investigation into Ciné’s death, when authorities publicly acknowledged delays in obtaining surveillance video from the Lindenhurst CVS where the 23-year-old employee was stabbed to death while working on Christmas night.

“As a father and a grandfather, and being in the New York State Assembly, I find that oftentimes there are things that we need to do as elected officials,” O’Pharrow said in an interview with Patch. “Sometimes we have to find a way to better protect our constituents. And particularly in this case — I found that there was a flaw.”

O’Pharrow, who retired from the NYPD as a detective after 25 years of service, said his law-enforcement background shaped both his reaction to the case and the substance of the legislation.

“I know what investigations look like,” he said. “I know what it takes to bring someone to justice. To me, this is something that really hit my heart. On Christmas Day, you have a young man who goes to work on his day off to relieve someone so that they can spend time with their family. What does that tell you about this individual? It tells you this person has a heart.”

O’Pharrow said he was visibly shaken by the delay in surveillance video being turned over to investigators, calling it unacceptable in the context of a violent felony.

Under the proposed law, businesses with surveillance systems would be required to provide footage immediately after receiving a formal written request from law enforcement investigating a felony believed to have occurred on the premises.

In a new statement provided to Patch after publication, CVS disputed claims that law enforcement faced delays in accessing surveillance footage following the stabbing.

“From the moment the Suffolk County Police Department arrived on Christmas night, we provided them with everything they wanted in a timely manner with urgency,” the company said. “The officers were shown the video in the store immediately upon their request and took recordings, which we have learned helped them identify the suspect.”

CVS said that after police requested multiple hours of footage from each of the store’s 30 cameras, employees worked overnight to extract and upload the files so investigators had them the following morning.

“We have been completely cooperative,” the company said.

The legislation establishes enforcement mechanisms and penalties for noncompliance. Businesses that fail to comply with the law’s requirements could face fines of up to $100,000 per incident, as well as potential civil liability for damages caused by failing to release surveillance footage in a timely manner.

In addition to mandating prompt disclosure, the bill requires businesses to take reasonable steps to ensure that surveillance footage is not overwritten, deleted, or destroyed once they are aware — or should reasonably be aware — that a felony may have occurred on their premises. The measure also explicitly prohibits retaliation against employees who comply with law enforcement requests for footage, regardless of a company’s internal policies on video retention or disclosure.

“We’re talking literally once a law enforcement agent hands over that document,” O’Pharrow said. “We need that video within a timeframe of five to 10 minutes. It shouldn’t take any longer than that to download and drop the video.”

While the bill emphasizes immediate cooperation, it also outlines limited exceptions. Businesses may request up to 24 hours to allow legal counsel to review a written request, and may seek a court order to delay release in cases where providing footage could incriminate the business itself or violate individual privacy rights.

The legislation is currently pending before the Assembly Codes Committee and was amended and reprinted earlier this month. O’Pharrow said the bill is supported by both the Ciné family and law enforcement officials he consulted across Suffolk County and New York City.

“I did speak to the Ciné family, and they’re extremely supportive of the bill,” he said. “I spoke to local law enforcement. They’re very, very supportive of the bill. This is another tool on the belt to assist them with these investigations and bring closure.”

O’Pharrow’s background includes decades of public service and community involvement. A Navy veteran and former NYPD detective, he has worked in school safety, domestic violence cases, gang investigations, and intelligence assignments, including protecting U.S. presidents.

O’Pharrow said the bill is not intended to target businesses unfairly, but rather to standardize cooperation during the most critical phase of a violent crime investigation.

“The first 24 hours are the most crucial part of any investigation,” he said. “Getting information, getting video footage — authenticated video footage — is critical. We need to establish a chain of custody and make sure that the video is authentic, and then pass it on to the DA’s office so they can complete a successful prosecution.”

He added that the measure would apply broadly, from large corporations to small businesses, and could also encourage positive accountability.

“It could be a CVS, it could be a Walgreens, it could be a mom-and-pop store,” O’Pharrow said. “This bill would also identify an individual who works at any store for doing the right thing when they hand over video to law enforcement.”

O’Pharrow said the Transparency Act reflects both his professional experience and his responsibility as an elected official, and the legislation could serve as a model beyond New York.

“This bill is about families who have lost loved ones to violent crimes,” he said. “The idea is to protect our constituents — protect the residents of Suffolk County and New York State. I think it could be adopted in other states if they don’t already have it. My grandparents said you always have to start somewhere. Unfortunately, there was a tragedy that happened in my district — and nobody wants to have that on their conscience.”