Members of Free the People ROC marched through Rochester Monday night to the Clinton Section Police Station, demanding reform after police used handcuffs and pepper spray in restraining a 9-year-old child last week.
Members of the group say police overstepped their bounds during the incident on Harris Street. Police released body camera footage of the incident over the weekend. Local government leaders, New York’s Attorney General, Letitia James, and Governor Andrew Cuomo have all condemned the action. The video made national news on Monday.
Late Monday night, the RPD announced three officers have been pulled from duty, one under suspension and two on administrative leave pending the outcome of the department’s internal investigation. Their names were not immediately released.
State Senator Samra Brouk of Rochester said she would introduce legislation to ban use of pepper spray on minors.