Former RPD chief to publicly testify Friday regarding Prude case

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary will publicly testify Friday regarding his handling of the Daniel Prude case.

Singletary will be questioned at 9:30 a.m. before City Council. This session will be live streamed on WHEC.com, as well as City Council’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

City Council, acting through an independent investigator, is seeking evidence and witness testimony.

Prude was not breathing and had no pulse after he was restrained and handcuffed by officers in late March 2020. He died seven days later in the hospital after being taken off life support. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide and said Prude died from complications of asphyxia due to physical restraint, excited delirium, and PCP.

His death didn’t become public knowledge until early September.

Singletary has filed a notice of claim against the city for defamation of character, hostile work environment, and wrongful and retaliatory termination.

In a statement, the mayor’s office called Singletary’s claim "frivolous."