[NFA] Rochester, New York's police chief abruptly resigned on Tuesday along with his command staff, saying there had been a "mischaracterization and politicization" of his actions following the death of Daniel Prude in police custody.
Freddie Joyner has more.
Amid growing scrutiny over Rochester’s handling of the arrest of Daniel Prude and the investigation into his death, the city’s Police Chief La’Ron Singletary abruptly announced his retirement on Tuesday.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren told a City Council meeting that she did not ask for Singletary to step down: "As you all know, this has been a very challenging time for the city of Rochester and the chief was not asked to give his resignation because I do believe that he has given his very best, and then with some information that was brought to light today that I have not previously seen before." Warren, who has also come under pressure since video of Prude's death was released, said Singletary's deputy, Joseph Morabito, had also retired and that "there may be a number of others that will decide to leave as well." Rochester, a city of 200,000 people in northwestern New York state, erupted with protests last week after the Prude family released body camera footage from the arrest in March showing officers had used a spit hood over Prude’s face and pinned him to the pavement to restrain him.
He later died.
The release of the footage five months after his death had raised questions of a cover-up and turned Rochester into the latest flashpoint in a summer of protests over racial injustice first sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd.
Black Lives Matter activists had been calling for Singletary’s resignation.
Along with his retirement, Singletary released a statement, saying: "As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character.
The events over the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity," adding "The mischaracterization and the politicization of the actions that I took after being informed of Mr. Prude’s death is not based on facts, and is not what I stand for." Mayor Warren said she was unsure when the retirements would take effect.
The city of Rochester has appointed an interim police chief following weeks of protests over the death of Daniel Prude.
Newly-revealed emails show the great lengths police in Rochester, New York went to delay the release of body cam video from Daniel..
