NY cops involved in Daniel Prude’s death suspended

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A New York mayor suspended the 7 police officers who were involved in the arrest and death of a black man whom they held to the ground until he died.
• Mayor Lovely Warren said at a press conference that although her decision might cause a rift with the local police union, she said she is the one who takes action and holds anyone who fails in their duties accountable.
• Daniel Prude, who suffered from mental illness, died seven days after cops arrested him and held him to the ground until he ceased breathing. 

The mayor of Rochester, New York has announced on Wednesday the suspension of seven police officers who were involved in the arrest and suffocation death of a black man whom they held handcuffed on the street and put in a hood.

Mayor Lovely Warren told reporters at a news conference that she made the decision to suspend the officers with pay, against the advice of the attorneys.

She also stated that she was aware that such moves may lead to a fight with the local police union.

“I understand that the union may sue me for taking these officers off our streets. They should feel free to do so,” she said in a statement, adding that she has “never shied away from taking action and holding our police, or anyone, who fails in their duties to our community accountable.”

On March 23, police officers stopped Daniel Prude, 41, whom they found running around the streets naked at 3 a.m. Images from police body camera videos, which was later on obtained by Prude’s family and released to the media, showed Prude being handcuffed with the officers putting a hood over his head to stop him from spitting over his head.

He was then seen pinned to the ground with a knee on his back until he stopped breathing. Police made Prude wear a spitting hood after he told them that he was infected with Coronavirus

According to the police and paramedics at the scene, Prude appeared to have stopped breathing. Family and authorities said he was taken off life support on March 30, seven days following the incident.

During a press conference on Wednesday, his family said that Daniel, who was mentally ill, was having a mental health episode on March 23, three hours after his release from a brief stay at the hospital.  His brother, Joe, even said that he called the Rochester Police Department for help that evening.

Responding to the controversy, the Rochester Police Locust Club released a statement on Thursday that read: “The Rochester Police Locust Club are in the process of gathering all relevant information available to us, and we will issue a statement regarding concerns about the incident involving our members and Mr. Daniel Prude, when that is completed.”

Source: AOL