Rochester Police Chief Resigns After Daniel Prude’s Death

The chief of police in Rochester, New York, announced his retirement on Tuesday as his department faced an investigation into March’s death. Daniel prud, A 41-year-old black man died in police custody. The department’s 20-year Veteran Head Law’Ron Singletary was appointed to the role last year by Mayor Lovely Warren.

Singletary issued a statement saying that he was retiring because he “would not sit outside attempting to destroy my character, while the events of the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity.”

He said, “The politicization and politicization of the action I took after being informed of Mr. Proude’s death is not based on facts, and is not as I do.”

Warren said on Tuesday that he had not asked Singletary to resign and later said that Singletary would remain on the force until the end of the month.

Prude’s death was largely unknown until last week when his family released body camera footage of his encounter with police. The footage showed officers encountering a naked Prude, who said his family had a mental health episode on March 23 on a Rochester street.

Footage which Protests broke out In the city, officers show Pruid handcuffed, spitting on his face and keeping his face on the ground for more than three minutes. There have been seven officers involved in the arrest. suspended.

Warren claimed last week that Singletary had originally told him that Prude had died in police custody and had not seen footage of Prude’s death until early August.

“I have personally and professionally disappointed me with Police Chief La’Ron Singleri for completely failing me personally and professionally,” Warren said. “He knows that he really needs to do better to protect and serve our community and I know he will.”

Warren and Singletary have pushed back against allegations covering Prude’s death, saying they were instructed to allow the New York Attorney General’s Office to complete its investigation before releasing information on the case publicly Be given. State law requires all police custody deaths to be investigated by the Attorney General’s office.

The Attorney General announced that he would constitute a grand jury to investigate the lawyer’s case, and on the same day, Prude’s family filed a civil rights lawsuit against Singleri, the city and other members of the police department.

Deputy Chief Joseph Morabito and Commander Fabian Rivera also announced their retirement, while Deputy Chief Mark Simmons and Commander Henry Father returned to their previous ranks as lieutenants. The Rochester Police Union said it was surprised by the resignation, but claimed that “leadership problems go directly to the mayor’s office.”

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