Rochester police chief and other senior officials of the police department have stepped down from their position and retired amid backlash caused by the death of Daniel Prude.
The news of the resignation of the high-ranking law enforcement officials was announced by Mayor Lovely Warren during a virtual briefing on Tuesday.
Among the members of the police who stepped down from their position and retired are Police Chief La’Ron Singletary, Chief of Administration Mark L. Simmons, and Deputy Chief Joseph M. Morabito.
Calls for the police chief’s resignation had been circulating the city of Rochester for days after the bodycam footage from the time of Daniel Prude’s arrest back in March has been released.
In the video, officers are seen placing a hood over the 41-year-old man, who was nude, in order to stop him from spitting before proceeding by pinning him to the street until he ceased to breathe.
A week after the controversial arrest, Daniel was taken off life support and passed away.
According to the reports, the police were called to the scene after Joe Prude, Daniel’s brother, called 911 due to his sibling’s erratic behavior.
As it was revealed, Daniel was earlier that day, on March 23, taken to a hospital from which he was released after a mental health evaluation.
Following the release of the footage of Prude’s death five months after the actual incident took place has sparked outrage and protests, whereas critics have suggested the police were trying to do a cover-up.
Amid backlash and calls for justice, Police Chief Singletary announced he would no longer tolerate the attempts of “outside entities” to ruin his “character and integrity.”
“As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character,” the Rochester Police Department veteran said.
“The members of the Rochester Police Department and the Greater Rochester Community know my reputation and know what I stand for.
“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.”
Replaced!