The Rochester Police Department, also known as the RPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of the City of Rochester, New York, reporting to the city mayor. It currently has approximately 852 officers and support staff, a budget of approximately $90 million, and covers an area of . The Rochester Police Department has been under a court-ordered federal consent decree from the United States Department of Justice since 1975 over its hiring practices. The decree was part of a 1975 settlement involving racial discrimination.
History Rochester hired a constable and formed a nightwatch, which first went active on December 28, 1819. Addy Van Slyck was hired as the first police chief in 1853. The police department was reorganized into the Metropolitan Police in 1865.
RPD was the first department in New York State to adopt a police telegraph system in 1886.
In 1893, the department established a bicycle division consisting of two officers who apprehended a daily average of 25 "scorchers" (speeders). The department fielded a mounted division in 1895—officers were expected to supply their own horses.
In 1905, the department added a traffic bureau consisting of officers stationed at busy Main Street intersections (East Avenue, St. Paul Street, State Street, and Fitzhugh Street). The chief traffic offenders of the time were haywagons. The city installed traffic lights in 1922. The department's first policewoman, Nellie L. McElroy, was also the first to be appointed under civil service rules in New York State.
The department's first African-American officer, Charles Price, was hired in 1947. Price retired in 1985 as a police captain and died on May 17, 2021.
Since the establishment of the Rochester Police Department, 14 officers have died in the line of duty.
Police chief goes to jail In October 1990, while serving as chief of police, Gordan Urlacher was arrested in Mayor Thomas Ryan's office on charges of conspiracy and embezzlement. He was dismissed as chief two months later. On February 25, 1992, former Rochester Police Chief Gordon Urlacher was convicted of three counts of embezzlement and one count of conspiracy for stealing police funds between 1988 and 1990 when he was chief of the police. On March 5, 1992, the former chief was sentenced to four years in federal prison for embezzling more than $200,000 in police department funds. Urlacher was also ordered by a federal judge to repay $150,000 to the city and to spend 12 years on supervised probation.
Civil rights trial The federal investigation into Chief Urlacher's theft of $300,000 of public funds led to a deeper probing of the entire police department which resulted in charges being brought against 5 additional police officers. The five officers, all members of the vice squad, were accused of beating and terrorizing drugs suspects and skimming drug profits. The 19 counts of police brutality included accusations of the use of unauthorized weapons to beat or threaten suspects, including blackjacks, a cattle prod and lead-filled leather gloves. On December 7, 1992, former Chief, Urlarcher pleaded guilty to the felony conspiracy to violate civil rights admitting that he knew about the civil rights abuses but did nothing about them. During a high-profile 10-week trial 12 officers testified against their 5 colleagues. In the end, the five officers were found not guilty on all charges.
Controversy and Misconduct
Civilian review board In 1992 the City of Rochester created a civilian review board to review internal police investigations when a civilian alleges that a police officer used excessive force or committed a crime. The police chief made the final decisions on all complaints.Complaint Process: City of Rochester, cityofrochester.gov. Accessed August 1, 2023.
In 2019, voters approved plans to create a civilian Police Accountability Board that replaced the previous review board. The new nine-member board functions as an independent city office with the purpose of investigating officer misconduct. It has additional resources that its predecessor lacked, such as subpoena power and ability to discipline officers. A New York State Supreme Court ruling in March 2020 struck down the board’s proposed discipline powers after a lawsuit was filed by the Rochester Police Locust Club, the city police union. The City Council filed an appeal of the decision, but no action has occurred yet.
Police shootings
+ Police shootings Shooting victim Victim's age Shooting date Officer(s) involved Outcome for victim Outcome for officer Juliano Anthony Plaza 23 December 15, 2014 Cynthia I. Muratore Initially in guarded condition, made full recovery and appeared in court.Juliano Plaza due in court, democratandchronicle.com. Accessed August 1, 2023. Later promoted to Investigator Thomas Johnson III 38 September 3, 2014 Darryl Pierson, Michael DiPaola Convicted of the murder of 32-year old Daryl R. Pierson, an 8-year veteran of the Rochester Police Department. Pierson was murdered by Johnson. DiPaola found justified in his actions.Ralph Strong "Irak" 24 July 27, 2013 Lt. Zenelovic, Charles Gorman, Officers Matt Balch, and Daniel Rizzo Shot multiple times; survived and convicted of two murders. Officers praised by Mayor Richardson and Police Chief Shepard for conduct. Israel "Izzy" Andino 20 June 21, 2012 Sgt. Aaron Colletti, Sgt. Mike Nicholls, Antonio Gonzalez, Brian Cala, Greg Karnes, Onasis Socol, and Eluid Rodriguez Death Deemed justified by Grand Jury Hayden Blackman 43 October 13, 2011 Randy Book Death Deemed justified by Grand Jury Miguel Cruz 21 March 1, 2010 Daniel Santiago Survived Deemed justified by Grand Jury Jose Luis Casado 19 2008 Ryan Hickey Shot in leg; Sentenced to life in prison for firing at police Praised by Police Chief David Moore for his conduct. Patricia Thompson 54 March 2, 2006 Jeffrey J. Lafave Death Deemed justified by Grand Jury LaShedica Mason 13 July 10, 2005 Mark Simmons Survived; gall bladder and part of her intestine had to be removed. Promoted to Sergeant and Special Assistant to Chief James Sheppard. Willie Carter 46 August 15, 2002 n/a Death Deemed justified by Grand Jury Craig Heard 14 June 10, 2002 Serge Savitcheff and Hector Padgham Death Padgham goes to Greece, New York Police Department; Savitcheff goes to Fairport, New York Police Department. Vandre "Vandy" Davis 21 2001 David Gebhardt Death Promoted to Lieutenant Calvin Greene 30 1988 Gary E. Smith Death Officer Smith was suspended without pay. Then-Rochester Police Chief Gordon F. Urlacher said departmental charges would be filed against Officer Smith. He declined to specify what the charges would be. Ultimate resolution unclear.Rochester policeman suspended without pay, nytimes.com. Accessed August 1, 2023. James Geil 24 October 12, 1985 Allen J. LuccittiSurvived Pleaded guilty to Department use of firearms and was suspended for 31 days. Louis Davila 17 September 30, 1985 Carlos Perez Death Unknown Kenneth Jackson 25 November 16, 1984 Ceferino Gonzalez Death Unknown Hiawatha Franklin n/a May 8, 1979 Harold Dack Death Unknown Denise Hawkins 18 November 11, 1975 Michael Leach Death Promoted to Captain Ronald Frazier 19 1975 James Soles Death Unknown Unidentified "negro motorist" n/a July 25, 1967 n/a Death Unknown
Operation Cool Down
In July 2012, the RPD announced Operation Cool Down with the stated purpose to crack down on violence in community. The initiative includes increased police presence in minority neighborhoods with a strategy to target minor offenses.
Operation Cool Down has prompted a backlash of criticism for racial profiling from residents, the ACLU, and Chair of City Council's Public Safety Committee Adam McFadden.
Mass surveillance A May 2012 national study that examined density of traffic cameras, red light cameras, and police surveillance cameras and authorized wiretaps found Rochester, NY to be the fifth most surveilled city in the country. Rochester, NY was found only to be behind Washington, D.C., Houston, Denver, and Cheyenne. The NYCLU among other community groups have questioned the effectiveness of the mass surveillance tactics and whether they invade the privacy of everyday law-abiding civilians. According to Rochester Police, there are more than 100 surveillance cameras and 25 red light cameras throughout the city as of May 2012.
Obstructing video recording of police On numerous occasions civilians have accused Rochester police of intimidating and/or arresting them for legally videotaping police officers in public. Most notable instance was the Emily Good incident.
In May 2011, Emily Good was arrested in her front lawn for videotaping a suspicious traffic stop in front of her house. After the video of the police interaction and arrest was posted on YouTube, it immediately went viral and attain sustained local, national, and international media coverage. Good was charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration but after the video was released the Monroe County District Attorney withdrew the charge.
Riot gear at Puerto Rican Festival Starting in at least 2004, Rochester Police have come under criticism by their now common practice showing up in riot gear after the Puerto Rican festival. In 2007, festival organizer Ida Perez called the police response "overkill." While many festival goers say honking, dancing, and street partying is all in good fun, police say riot gear is necessary to clear out the neighborhood.
2009 peace march On October 7, 2009, the eighth anniversary of the start of the Afghanistan war, the Rochester police broke up a peace march protesting the Afghanistan war organized by Rochester Students for a Democratic Society with a massive police response which included at least 40 police. In the end twelve people were arrested, two were hospitalized for their injuries sustained from police. The severe police response drew massive public outcry. Executive Deputy Police Chief Markert admitted the police could have acted differently to ensure everyone's safety. Although Rochester police promised a full report on incident, no report was ever released and it remains unclear if any changes were made in result of the public response or the internal investigation.
2012 anti-capitalist march On July 22, 2012, Rochester police broke up a peaceful anti-capitalist march on East Avenue with pepper spray and 18 arrests. Police were criticized for the large use of pepper spray, not giving dispersal orders, and police brutality. Police claim protesters were blocking the street and refused to move, but videos from the march indicate that many protesters were arrested while walking on the sidewalk.
Killing of Daniel Prude The encounter of Daniel Prude with Rochester Police officers on March 23, 2020, and his subsequent death on March 30, sparked intense national criticism of the agency, for a nearly six-month delay in suspending the officers involved, city and department leaders withholding information from the public, and for an aggressive police response to protests.
Officers located a missing Prude—disturbed, naked and in the middle of the street at 3 am—placing him into handcuffs, which he complied to. Prude, suffering from a mental health episode, tries to stand and several officers used restraining techniques to control him. Within several minutes, he goes from fully conscious and alert, to being without a pulse and not breathing. While his heartbeat was restored by paramedics, he was functionally brain-dead, and when disconnected from life support one week later, pronounced dead. The Monroe County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, with "complications from asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint", excited delirium and PCP intoxication listed as factors.