The Rochester Police Locust Club held a news conference on Friday to address the death of Daniel Prude, the investigation into his officers, and to respond to comments made by Mayor Lovely Warren about the officer’s suspensions.

What You Need To Know

  • Mike Mazzeo said officers involved in the arrest of Daniel Prude followed proper protocol

  • Mazzeo said he believes Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is not telling the truth about what she knew and when surrounding Daniel Prude's case

  • Mazzeo believes both Mayor Lovely and Police Chief La'Ron Singletary should face consequences

President Mike Mazzeo says he believes the officers under investigation followed exact protocol in the arrest of Prude.

He is also saying that he has no idea what the status of the investigation involving his officers is, and says he doesn’t understand why information is coming out without a completed investigation being done.  

Mazzeo says he watched the training video used by police which shows a situation similar to what they were dealing with when arresting Prude. He says the officers followed it step by step. Mazzeo says the problem wasn’t the officers, it was the training. 

"If there's a need to change things the way policing is done, let's change them,” said Mazzeo. “An officer does not have the ability to go or disregard what their mandated to do and what they're trained to do."

That included the officers’ use of a spit shield over Prude’s head, which they kept on him as he threw up and lost consciousness while facing down on the pavement and being held down by the officers. Mazzeo brought out an example of a spit shield at the conference.

Mazzeo is also voicing his opinion on Mayor Lovely Warren, saying he believes she hasn’t been transparent or truthful, especially in remarks made during a news conference on Thursday.

The mayor said she’s ready for what they may do.

"I understand that the union may sue the city for this. They shall feel free to do so. Actually, I have been sued four times for actions that I have taken against racist acts that I believe," said Warren.

Mazzeo says he doesn’t know what the mayor was talking about regarding being sued. He does believe the mayor should resign, saying what he called the “cloud over her head” makes her too much of a distraction to lead city government properly.

Mazzeo withheld his opinion on whether RPD Chief La'Ron Singletary should resign, saying that he thinks he should be held accountable.

Mazzeo said the Locust Club has been making sure the seven officers on paid suspension and their families are safe.