Authorities in Long Island report that CVS hesitated to share surveillance footage after an employee was fatally stabbed on Christmas Day, prompting local officials to push for legislative changes to prevent similar situations in the future.
The proposed Edison “Josie” Film Transparency Act—named after a 23-year-old CVS worker who lost her life during a robbery attempt—aims to mandate that businesses provide security footage to law enforcement without requiring a search warrant or subpoena, as indicated by state Rep. Kwani O’Falour.
“There are clear inconsistencies that we’ve encountered when law enforcement tries to access crime scene videos,” O’Fallow shared. “It took over 18 hours just to obtain the footage, which significantly hindered our investigation.”
CVS faced criticism after Suffolk County police asserted that employees at the Lindenhurst location delayed a murder investigation for an entire day. This hold-up postponed the arrest of the suspect, John Piracio, who now faces murder charges.
“The individual behind this terrible act could have fled the state, or even committed further crimes,” O’Fallow remarked.
Lawmakers introduced this legislation just days before Sine’s funeral, with the bill now under consideration in committee, and potential modifications are on the table.
As it stands, current laws do not compel private companies to hand over surveillance footage without a warrant or subpoena, and there are no repercussions for delays or failure to comply. The new bill does not specify deadlines for submitting video or evidence, but it does propose fines of $100,000 and other civil penalties for each infraction.
O’Fallow mentioned further refinements will occur during the legislative process. The proposal suggests possible exemptions and could establish a 24-hour frame for cooperation, while also allowing businesses to have legal counsel review videos prior to their release, taking privacy and competitive aspects into account.
Shinae, who was employed at the CVS on his day off to let a fellow employee enjoy Christmas with family, was attacked when the assailant, armed with a knife, demanded money and assaulted him when he refused.
Suffolk County’s leading police officer, Kevin Catalina, criticized CVS in December, stating the store was “impeding our ability to make arrests.”
While Shinae’s family was unavailable for comment as funeral arrangements unfold, O’Fallow informed that discussions with her parents and siblings indicate their support for the bill.
In response, a CVS representative defended their actions regarding the footage, informing that the store permitted police to access video on the day of the incident and provided it the following morning.
“Our team worked throughout the night to extract and package over 24 hours of footage as requested,” the spokesperson clarified.
