A lawsuit filed Monday morning in U.S. District Court for Western New York asserts sweeping change is necessary to reform what it describes as the racist, predatory, brutal culture and actions of the Rochester Police Department. Absent external enforcement, the system will not change itself, according to the 96-page filing that outlines constitutional and civil rights violations allegedly perpetrated by Rochester police over the last 50 years.
Named in the lawsuit are Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, former Police Chief La’Ron Singletary, interim Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan, the city of Rochester, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Sheriff Todd Baxter, other members of RPD’s command staff, members of the New York State Police and other law enforcement officers, including 200 “John Does.”