City Council News Release - City Councilmembers Call For Implementation Of Additional Protest Measures To Improve Police/Community Relations

Press release from the City of Rochester:

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2021

City Councilmembers Call for Implementation of
Additional Protest Measures to Improve Police/Community Relations

The members of the Rochester City Council today issued a
memo to RPD Interim Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan recommending additional protocols be implemented in regard to protest protocols in an effort to improvepolice/community relations.

While the Councilmembers acknowledged that RPD’s recently
announced protest plan is a significant improvement over past police responses to protest situations, the group strongly urged the Chief to expand on the planby implementing three specific suggestions: banning the use of chemical agents, establishing clear “rules of engagement,” and establishing a RPD “posturing protocol” for crowd control scenarios.

“The City Council has been focusing on citizen’s rights to protest peacefully and safely for quite some time,” said Council President
Loretta C. Scott. Our ultimate goal is to develop effective methods to deescalate threatening situations while protecting both citizens and police officers.”

The Council has called on RPD to implement these suggestions
immediately. For additional information, please see the attached memo here>>.

Media Contact: Condenessa Brown – condenessa.brown@cityofrochester.gov

This press release was produced by the City of Rochester. The views expressed here are the author’s own.