Rochester Police Chief, Staff Resign Amidst Protests

The Rochester, New York, police chief resigned Tuesday amid increasing scrutiny over his handling of the police-involved death of Daniel Prude.

La’Ron Singletary, who had held the position since April 2019, resigned along with Rochester Police Department Dep. Chief Joseph Morabito and Dep. Chief Simmons, according to a press release shared by Spectrum News anchor Jim Aroune.

Prude died in Rochester police custody in March after arresting officers had placed a spit hood was over his head and he was restrained by law enforcement, video shows.

“As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character,” Singletary said in a statement, according to Aroune. “The events over the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity.”

He continued: “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.”

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Protests and riots have occurred in Rochester in recent days since police released footage of Prude’s arrest on Sept. 4.