A police reform plan for the City of Rochester, mandated by Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been approved by the Rochester City Council. The vote was five-to-three, with one councilmember absent.
Council President Loretta Scott, Vice-President Willie Lightfoot, Michael Patterson, Miguel Melendez and LaShay Harris voted for the measure. Councilmembers Malik Evans, Mitch Gruber and Mary Lupien voted “no.”
The plan was debated for more than six hours over the past weeks by council after numerous public hearings. It had to be in place by April 1st, or the city faced losing state aid for its police department.
The plan calls for downsizing the RPD over the next three years, and boosting the city’s Crisis Intervention Team which responds in cases of mental health crisis. It would make the team available 24/seven instead of the current limited hours. It would also ban use of chemical irritants like pepper balls on minors 15 and under. It would also offer police officers a wellness program for their mental health needs.