Former Rochester Mayor Johnson, RASE Commission discuss Prude’s death

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson and the RASE Commission discussed the Daniel Prude case on Wednesday.

Prude, 41, was not breathing and had no pulse after he was restrained and handcuffed by Rochester Police officers on March 23. He died 7 days later in the hospital after being taken off life support. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide and says Prude died from complications of asphyxia due to physical restraint, excited delirium and PCP.

During the conference, Johnson said he was “horrified” when he saw the bodycam footage of Daniel Prude from March 23.

The former mayor said that Rochester “is slowly devolving into chaos” and emphasized that the Rochester Police Department needs not to be defunded, but to be reformed.

While he acknowledged that the “earnest, heartfelt demand for change from a new generation of leaders” need to be heard, Johnson also called for a cease-fire.

“It’s time to have a ceasefire, if only for a brief time. A cessation of hostility,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he believes there should be a night or two without demonstrations. That, instead of gathering at 1 a.m., let everyone meet at 1 p.m.

“Both sides need to negotiate,” Johnson emphasized.

The former mayor doesn’t believe that people should be putting their lives at risk every night in order for their voices to be heard or for changes to be made.

And, according to Johnson, changes need to be made.

“However the police have been trained, their training is not complete,” Johnson said.

For full coverage on the death of Daniel Prude, click here.

Former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson and the RASE Commission will be discussing the Daniel Prude case and investigation Wednesday.

They said that Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary’s retirement announcement will also be a topic of discussion.

The press conference is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Frederick Douglass statue on South Avenue.

You can watch the live stream in the video player below, or click here to watch if you’re having trouble seeing the video on your mobile device.

For full coverage on the death of Daniel Prude, click here.