Rochester Police Department

For the police department in Minnesota, see Rochester Police Department (Minnesota).
Rochester Police Department
Abbreviation RPD

Patch of the Rochester Police Department
Motto Serving With Pride
Agency overview
Formed December 28, 1819[1]
Preceding agency Metropolitan Police[1]
Annual budget Decrease US$ 76.201 Million (2011–2012)[2]:9-2
Legal personality Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction* City of Rochester in the state of New York, USA
Map of Rochester Police Department's jurisdiction.
Size 37 square miles (96 km2)
Population 230,000
Legal jurisdiction As per operations jurisdiction.
Primary governing body Mayor of Rochester, New York
Secondary governing body Rochester City Council
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters 185 Exchange Boulevard, Rochester
Police Officers Decrease 726 (2011–2012)[2]:9-4
Unsworn members Decrease 143.5 (2011–2012)[2]:9-4
Agency executive Michael L. Ciminelli, Chief of Department
Units Patrol Division East
Patrol Division West
Special Operations Division
Facilities
Stations Headquarters
Patrol Division East
Patrol Division West
Animal Control Center
Special Operations Division
Website
www.cityofrochester.gov/police
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

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 869 officers and support staff, a budget of approximately $75 million, and covers an area of 37 square miles (96 km2). 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.[3]

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.[1]

RPD was the first department in New York State to adopt a police telegraph system in 1886.[4]:64

In 1893, the department established a bicycle division consisting of two officers who apprehended a daily average of 25 "scorchers" (speeders).[4]:54 The department fielded a mounted division in 1895—officers were expected to supply their own horses.[4]:66

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).[4]:68 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.[4]:62 The department's first African-American officer, Charles Price, was hired in 1947.[5]

Since the establishment of the Rochester Police Department, 14 officers have died in the line of duty.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

Police chiefs
Name Tenure Name Tenure Name Tenure
Addy W. Van Slyck 1853 Alexander McLean 1873–1885 Thomas F. Hastings 1974–1981
George I. Marsh 1854 Joseph P. Cleary May 28, 1885 – March 1, 1905 Delmar E. Leach 1981–1985
Samuel N. Sherman 1855 John C. Hayden March 1, 1905 – December 31, 1908 Gordon F. Urlacher 1985 – October 18, 1991
Elisha J. Keeney 1856 Joseph M. Quigley January 1, 1909 – September 13, 1927 Roy A. Irving 1991–1993
W.D. Oviatt 1857 Andrew J. Kavanaugh October 16, 1927 – 1934 Thomas L. Conroy January 3, 1994 – May 31, 1994 (interim)
Seth Simmons 1858 Henry T. Copenhagen 1934–1949 Robert S. Warshaw June 1, 1994 – March, 1998
Elisha J. Keeney 1859 T. Herbert Killip 1950–1953 Robert J. Duffy March 23, 1998 – March 31, 2005
Matthew G. Warner 1860 William A. Winfield 1954–1962 Cedric L. Alexander April 1, 2005 – December 31, 2005 (interim)
William Charles 1861 William F. Lombard 1963–1970 Timothy C. Hickey January 1, 2006 – April 9, 2006 (interim)
William Mudgett 1862–1863 John A. Mastrella 1970–1972 David T. Moore April 10, 2006 – November 10, 2010
Robert R. Harris 1864 James J. Cavoti November 1972 – November 1973 James M. Sheppard November 11, 2010 – December 9, 2010 (acting)
December 10, 2010 – December 20, 2013
Samuel M. Sherman 1865–1873 Joseph E. Battaglia 1973–1974 Michael L. Ciminelli December 21, 2013 – March 6, 2014 (Interim)
March 7, 2014 – Present
Line of Duty Deaths [6]
Officer Name Officer Rank End of Watch Cause of Death
Louis Gomenginger Patrolman July 3, 1876 Gunfire
William P. O'Neil Patrolman December 31, 1888 Gunfire
Charles E. Twitchell Patrolman August 10, 1910 Gunfire
Frank Ford Patrolman May 29, 1912 Gunfire
James Upton Patrolman March 19, 1919 Gunfire
William O'Brien Patrolman May 2, 1919 Gunfire
John Mallet Patrolman June 22, 1931 Struck by Vehicle
Victor Woodhead Detective November 17, 1932 Gunfire
James T. Volz Patrolman September 15, 1942 Struck by Vehicle
Harold V. Shaw Patrolman December 11, 1959 Gunfire
Leo L. Kerber Patrolman December 10, 1961 Struck by Vehicle
John J. Jenkins Police Officer January 3, 1979 Automobile Accident
Ronald J. Siver Police Officer August 19, 1984 Drowned
Thomas William "Tom" Clark Police Officer January 17, 2006 Heart Attack
Daryl R. Pierson Police Officer September 3, 2014 Gunfire

Alleged 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 makes the final decisions on all complaints.

Police shootings

Police shootings
Shooting victim Victim's age Shooting date Officer(s) involved Outcome for victim Outcome for officer
Juliano Anthony Plaza [13] 23 December 15, 2014 Cynthia Muratore In guarded condition Unknown
Thomas Johnson 3rd [14] 38 September 3, 2014 Darryl Pierson, Michael DiPaola Convicted for the murder of Officer Darryl Pierson Pierson was killed by Johnson; DiPaola was justified
Ralph Strong "Irak" 24 July 27, 2013 Lt. Zenelovic, Charles Gorman, Officers Matt Balch, and Daniel Rizzo Shot Multiple Times Survived Praised By Mayor Richardson and Police Chief Shepard for Officers Conduct
Israel "Izzy" Andino [15][16] 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 [17] 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 [18] 54 March 2, 2006 Jeff Lafave Death Deemed justified by Grand Jury
LaShedica Mason 13 July 10, 2005 Mark Simmons Survived; gall bladder and several feet of her intestines 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 Padgham goes to Greece (NY) Police; Savitcheff goes to Fairport (NY) police
Vandre "Vandy" Davis 21 2001 David Gebhardt Death Promoted to Lieutenant
Calvin Greene 30 1988 Gary E. Smith Death Suspended without pay
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
Alecia McCuller [19] 21 Nov. 13, 1983 Thomas Whitmore Death Unknown
Denise Hawkins[20] 18 November 11, 1975 Michael Leach Death Promoted to Captain
Ronald Frazier [21] 19 1975 James Soles Death Unknown
Unidentified "negro motorist" [22][23] n/a July 25, 1967 n/a Death Unknown

Controversial practices

Racial profiling

The Rochester Police Department (RPD) has been accused of racial profiling of black and Latino residents in individual instances and as a systematic practice.[24][25][26] These accusations are denied by officials of the Rochester Police Department. As official policy Police Chief James Sheppard says the department engages in what we he calls "criminal profiling" and "proactive policing."

Barideaux incident

Rochester police were accused of racially profiling a young black driver, Jeramie Barideaux, as he was pulled over, searched, and arrested in what appeared to a false traffic stop caught on city traffic enforcement cameras.[27][28] All charges were dismissed against Barideaux, but only after he spent four months in jail. In July 2012 Barideaux filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Officers Ryan Hartley and Rob Osipovitch for what he called a false traffic stop, search, and arrest.[27][29]

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.

If you’re riding a bike and it doesn’t have a bell, we’re going to stop you. If it doesn’t have lights, we’re going to stop you. Tail light’s out – we’re going to stop you. If you’re on a corner and we think you’re engaged in criminal activity, we’re going to stop you. — Police Chief James Sheppard [30]

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.[30] [31][32]

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.[33][34][35] 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.[35] According to Rochester Police, there are more than 100 surveillance cameras and 25 red light cameras throughout the city as of May 2012.[35]

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.

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,[36][37][38] 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.

Crowd control tactics

The Rochester Police Department draw criticism for what some call aggressive crowd tactics at marches and festivals.

Riot gear at Puerto Rican Festival

Starting in at least 2004,[39] 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."[40] 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.[41]

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.[42] In the end twelve people were arrested, two were hospitalized for their injuries sustained from police. The severe police response drew massive public outcry.[43] Executive Deputy Police Chief Markert admitted the police could have acted differently to ensure everyone's safety.

20/20 hindsight, would I have loved to say, OK, hold on folks, where are you going, and let me facilitate you getting there in a safe manner, that's me the next day. I don't know why that didn't happen. -Executive Deputy Police Chief George Markert, at a Special Session of City Council [44]

Although Rochester police promised a full report on incident,[45][46] 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.[47] Police claim protesters were blocking the street and refused to move,[48][49] but videos from the march indicate that many protesters were arrested while walking on the sidewalk.

Organization

The department is organized into two bureaus: Operations and Administration.

Operations Bureau

The Operations Bureau consists of three divisions:[50]

The Patrol Divisions primarily conduct foot, bicycle, and vehicle patrols and respond to emergency calls, apprehending suspects and conducting preliminary and follow-up investigation of offenses. They also work closely with Police and Citizens Together Against Crime Program (PAC-TAC) participants and Police-Citizen Interaction Committees (PCIC) and participate in the City's four Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD) teams. The East division handles police services east of the Genesee River with the exception of the City's Inner Loop. Police services west of the River and within the Inner Loop are provided by the West division.

The Special Operations Division is considerably more specialized, consisting of:[51]

Administration Bureau

The Administration Bureau comprises:

Ranks

Demographics

As of February 2010, 77% (602) of the police force were white, 11% (83) black, 10% (78) Latino, and 2% (12) Asian. 88% (691) were men while 12% (90) were women. 87% (680) of the officers were non-residents, while 13% (101) were residents of the city of Rochester.[52]

RPD Demographics
Race RPD % City %
White 77% 38%
Black 11% 42%
Latino 10% 16%
Asian 2% 3%
Native American 0% 1%
Source:,[52][53]

Facilities

The Department's headquarters are in the Public Safety Building at 185 Exchange Boulevard. The Patrol Divisions are located at 630 North Clinton Avenue and 1099 Jay Street. The Animal Control Center is at 184 Verona Street. The Special Operations Division is at 261 Child Street.

Equipment

Officers of the Rochester Police Department will be issued the Beretta Px4 Storm in .45 ACP caliber as a service pistol, replacing the Beretta Cougar.[54]

More recently, RPD officers have been slowly being assigned Glock 21 Gen-4 handguns, as the department has been moving away from the Beretta Px4 STORM .45 ACP as its standard issue sidearm. The Glock handguns have shown to demonstrate a higher reliability in the field, thus prompting the switch after trials with teams within the department.[55]

Currently, all patrol officers carry the Glock 21-Gen4, and those in administrative positions can choose between the Glock 21 Gen-4 or the Glock 30-SF.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "History of the Rochester Police Department". Official website. City of Rochester, New York. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  2. 1 2 3 City of Rochester, NY 2011–2012 Budget, City of Rochester, New York, 2011, retrieved 2012-08-06
  3. ↑ "Rochester Police Struggle to Recruit Minorities". POLICE Magazine. Torrance, California: Leslie Pfeiffer. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Moss, Albert J. (1929), History of the Police Bureau, Rochester, N.Y., Department of Public Safety from Its Earliest Days to May 1, 1929, Rochester, New York: Locust Club, OCLC 7334233
  5. ↑ "Black police officers made early mark on Rochester force", The Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, p. 1B, 2011-02-20, ISSN 1088-5153, retrieved 2011-02-20
  6. 1 2 "Rochester Police Department, New York, Fallen Officers". Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. to Reveal Tapes in Trial of Ex-Rochester Police Chief", The New York Times, New York, New York, February 1, 1992
  8. ↑ "Ex-Chief's Conviction Taints Rochester Police", The New York Times, New York, New York, February 29, 1992
  9. ↑ "Rochester Ex-Police Chief Gets 4 Years in Prison", The New York Times, New York, New York, March 5, 1992
  10. ↑ "Brutality Case in Rochester Embroils Police on 2 Fronts", New York Times, New York, New York, January 31, 1993
  11. ↑ "Ex-Chief in Rochester Admits Rights Violation in Brutality Case", New York Times, New York, New York, December 8, 1992
  12. ↑ "Civil Rights Trial Is Likely to Leave a Long-Term Mark on Rochester Police", The New York Times, New York, New York, April 6, 1993
  13. ↑ "Man shot by officer in guarded condition". Democrat and Chronicle. December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Darryl Pierson's killer gets life without parole". Democrat and Chronicle. July 16, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Locust Street residents rip police over shooting". Democrat and Chronicle. June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Protestors Ask Why Bi-Polar Man Was Shot By RPD". WHAM-TV. June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Wife of man killed by police: "He was a good man, a very, very good man"". WHEC-NBC-Channel 10. October 14, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  18. ↑ "RPD Officer Shoots, Kills Woman". YNN News. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Police Clash Goes On". Rochester Times-Union. Rochester, New York. December 19, 1984.
  20. ↑ "Former RPD Officer Mistakenly Shoots, Kills Son". WHAM-TV. Rochester, New York. July 24, 2012.
  21. ↑ "Indict Officer for Shooting, Group Says". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. May 9, 1975.
  22. ↑ MAURICE CARROLL (July 25, 1967). "Rochester Negro Is Shot Dead Trying to Drive at Police Line". New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  23. ↑ UPI (July 25, 1967). "Negro Killed in Rochester Race Violence". The News and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  24. ↑ "Clergy Air Racial Profiling Claims". WROC-TV. Rochester, New York. November 23, 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  25. ↑ "Good supporters hold rally against Racial Profiling at the Liberty Pole". WHEC-TV. Rochester, New York. July 5, 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  26. ↑ "Two Cops Sued, Accused of Lying in Arrest Report". WHEC-TV. Rochester, New York. July 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  27. 1 2 "Update: Two RPD cops sued, accused of lying in police arrest report". WHEC-TV. Rochester, New York. July 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  28. ↑ "Rally in Response to Lawsuit Against Two Police Officers". NBC News. Rochester, New York. July 31, 2012.
  29. ↑ "City, Rochester Police Officers Accused of Perjury in Lawsuit". WROC-TV. Rochester, New York. July 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  30. 1 2 ""Cool Down" Prompts Racial Profiling Concerns". WHAM-TV. Rochester, New York. July 3, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  31. ↑ "Editorial: "Cool Down" approach is flawed". Democrat and Chronicle. July 28, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  32. ↑ "Nestor Ramos: 'Cool Down' could have chilling effect". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. July 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  33. ↑ "Cities With the Most Surveillance". Men's Health. May 10, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Magazine Says Big Brother is Watching". [Rochester Business Journal]. Rochester, NY. May 30, 2012.
  35. 1 2 3 "Rochester: One of the Most "Watched" Cities Nationally". [WHEC-TV] NBC. May 31, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Busted After Recording Police: Uproar Over Rochester Woman's Arrest". CNN. June 25, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Charge dismissed against woman who videotaped police encounter". CNN. June 27, 2012.
  38. ↑ "Cleared After Arrest: Prosecutor Drops Charge Against Emily Good". CNN. July 3, 2012.
  39. ↑ Roberto Resto (October 15, 2004). "Under Siege From Police: Rochester police target Puerto Rican Festival". Socialist Worker. Rochester, New York. p. 4.
  40. ↑ "Puerto Rican Festival Wants New Rep". YNN Rochester. Rochester, New York. July 17, 2007. Retrieved 2012-08-05.
  41. ↑ Barnhart, Rachel (August 2, 2010). "Some Say Police Ruined Their Post-Festival Fun". WHAM-TV. Rochester, New York.
  42. ↑ "Anti-War Protestors Say Police Went Too Far". YNN News. Rochester, NY. October 8, 2009.
  43. ↑ "Protesters Decry Police". Democrat and Chronicle. October 10, 2009. p. 3B.
  44. ↑ "Rochester Council Takes Up Clash". WROC - CBS NEWS. Rochester, NY. October 9, 2009.
  45. ↑ "Rochester Police, City Council Examine Protest Clash". WHAM - ABC News. Rochester, NY. October 9, 2009.
  46. ↑ "Review board to investigate how protest led to arrests, confrontation with Rochester police". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY. October 9, 2009.
  47. ↑ "Group criticizes police for being 'overly aggressive' during weekend arrests". Democrat and Chronicle. July 24, 2012.
  48. ↑ "Protestors Arrested Saturday Appear in Court". YNN Rochester. July 23, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Arrested Protesters Appear in Court Monday". WHEC-TV. Rochester, New York. July 23, 2012.
  50. ↑ "Rochester Police Department Operations Bureau". Official website. City of Rochester, New York. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  51. ↑ "Rochester Police Department Special Operations Division". Official website. City of Rochester, New York. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  52. 1 2 "Rochester Police Department Demographics, February 2010". Rochester Independent Media Center. January 7, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  53. ↑ "Rochester (city), New York". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  54. ↑ "Rochester, NY Purchases Beretta Px4 STORM .45 cal Handguns". PoliceOne.com. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  55. ↑ Archived August 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.

Further reading

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