Since Prude’s death, Rochester has pushed for transparency

Kerria Weaver and Madison Scott

RochesterDemocratandChronicle | USATODAYNETWORK

The death of 41-year-old Daniel Prude set off a wave of anger in Rochester – not just because of how he died, but because the public didn’t learn the whole story until six months later.

An 84-page report from special investigator Andrew Celli found that Mayor Lovely Warren deliberately kept Prude’s death from the public and misled people about what she knew and when she knew it.

The report also criticized former Police Chief La’Ron Singletary for downplaying the incident, omitting key details and misdirecting city officials. City Corporation Counsel Tim Curtin was similarly found to have withheld critical information.

Celli’s investigation faulted the entire administration for its handling of the case, describing a coordinated failure that damaged public trust and deepened the city’s grief.

This cover-up of Prude’s death resulted in protests for police reform and demands for transparency.

Since Prude’s death, Rochester has pushed for greater transparency, with reforms such as Person In Crisis teams, changes to body camera policies, and efforts to strengthen Freedom of Information Law procedures.

After Celli’s report, Mayor Warren highlighted these changes, calling for more accountability, including the power to fire officers for cause.

But five years later, key questions remain: Have these reforms truly improved transparency? Or could another cover-up, like the one that followed Prude’s death, still happen today?

What happened to Daniel Prude? How was it covered up?

Originally from Chicago, Daniel Prude arrived in Rochester on March 22, 2020, to visit his brother. Early the following day, after Prude ran out of the house in distress, his brother called 911.

Police encountered Prude around 3 a.m., responding to calls about a man breaking windows and acting erratically. Officers handcuffed him, placed a spit hood over his head and held him down – one of them pressing his head into the pavement for several minutes. Prude stopped breathing and was declared brain-dead shortly afterward; he died a week later.

The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by asphyxia during physical restraint, complicated by PCP and excited delirium.

The public didn’t learn of Prude’s death until six months later, sparking outrage and questions about who knew, when they knew and what they did. In response, the City Council hired investigator Andrew Celli to uncover the truth. “Did officials of city government suppress information about the arrest and death of Daniel Prude? … The straightforward answer is yes,” Celli wrote in a statement accompanying the report’s release. “The investigation revealed no explanation that fully accounts for the more than four-month delay between the death of an unarmed man at the hands of Rochester police, and public disclosure of the facts and circumstances under which the death occurred – other than a decision or series of decisions not to make such disclosure.”

Celli’s report found that by late March or early April, Mayor Warren and key officials knew the critical facts: Prude died from police restraint – not a drug overdose – and the officers were under criminal investigation.

Despite this, Singletary downplayed and misrepresented the incident, while \\Curtin also misled officials and made false statements. “In the final analysis, the decision not to publicly disclose these facts rested with Mayor Warren, as the elected mayor of the city of Rochester,” Celli wrote. “But Mayor Warren alone is not responsible for the suppression of the circumstances of the Prude arrest and Mr. Prude’s death.”

What safeguards did the city enforce following Prude’s death?

For the Rochester Police Accountability Board, the Daniel Prude case served as a turning point, as the organization was preparing to become fully operational. The board, formed in 2019, was created to provide independent civilian accountability and oversight of the Rochester Police Department.

According to Executive Director Lesli Myers-Small, the board’s mission is to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in policing.

“Our goal is to reimagine what public safety looks like, and we know that we’ve had a difficult past in Rochester as it relates to this,” Small said. “We are investigating complaints of alleged police misconduct, we review and recommend policy changes, and we certainly engage with the community.”

Small recalled serving as superintendent of the Rochester City School District when news of Prude’s death broke. She remembered its profound impact on her and those around her.

“I sat with my leaders who were mothers in particular because it was really impacting my women of color who were moms,” Small said. “We had to do an emotional check-in and ask, ‘How are you doing?’ because it could have been any one of us who have sons or daughters – but in this case, sons.”

Small said the fallout from Prude’s death helped drive the push for stronger police oversight through the Police Accountability Board.

“The case is a North Star for us – of how we are committed to making sure that no critical information is withheld from the public when it comes to police conduct and community safety,” she said.

Since Prude’s death, transparency has improved – body camera footage is available more quickly, and investigative materials are easier to access.

However, challenges persist, including legal hurdles over what records can be released and what must remain confidential.

“The culture of transparency is evolving, but full cooperation from law enforcement is still underway,” Small said. “I do want to say that my relationship with Chief David Smith is very collaborative. We meet monthly and have transparent and open conversations.”

Small also noted that distrust remains in Black and brown communities as it relates to law enforcement – and that not all members of the public understand their rights. “The lessons that we learned from Daniel Prude’s case have to continue to guide policy improvements, transparency efforts and reforms in how law enforcement interacts with our community – especially those who are in a mental health crisis,” she said.

Where does Rochester stand now?

When asked about the effectiveness of transparency efforts under Mayor Malik Evans since Prude’s death, the city provided the Democrat and Chronicle with the following statement: “During Mayor Evans’ first year in office, he has made mental health a priority, investing in the City’s Person In Crisis (PIC) Team, expanding the team and its capability from a few people to a fully functioning team to provide critical support for individuals and families in crisis. Building on this success, the City announced the ACTION Team in February, a community responder team who will handle low-risk 911 calls, ensuring that residents receive the right help at the right time. The ACTION Team will launch its first phase this fall. The City of Rochester remains committed to developing innovative, effective and compassionate approaches to public safety that serve all city residents.”

Five years after Daniel Prude’s death, much has changed in Rochester – there is a new mayor, a new police chief and a series of reforms aimed at strengthening transparency.

One question remains: Could the community trust the city to tell the truth if something like this happens again?

Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.

Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at kweaver@ gannett. com .