Davy V. Presents... Rochester, NY Police Department Exposed! Exposing the Misconduct and Corruption within the Rochester Police Department that the RPD and their employer, the City of Rochester, NY, don't want the world to see!
Rochester, NY Police cruiser W-21,
hit legally parked car so hard, it moved it several feet from curb.
A Rochester, NY Police officer crashed into a parked vehicle on Westfield St., in Rochester's 19th ward neighborhood, early Sunday morning, around 5:00 a.m.
Some neighbors said they were awakened by a "huge bang."
One woman, who took the photos on the right, she said she came outside and saw what she described as a tall Rochester Police officer, bleeding from the back of his head.
According to neighbors, it appears as if the RPD officer fell asleep at the wheel.
As you can see in the photos, the damage to both the parked vehicle, and the RPD cruiser, W-21, was pretty extensive.
The vehicle that the RPD officer crashed into, was parked legally.
I placed a call to Rochester Police seeking comment, and I will be updating this post soon.
NOTE: According to some neighbors, who overheard Rochester Police officers talking with ambulance personnel, the officer fell asleep behind the wheel.
Whether it's 8 Rochester, NY Police officers play fighting, and posing for photos on the roof of the Public Safety building,... or Rochester, NY Police officer Melanie Rivera taking her friends on ride alongs and taking photos of herself, in her police cruiser, then posting them to Instagram, ... or a Rochester, NY Police officer allowing his tattoo artist friend to get behind the wheel of his police cruiser and take a photo throwing up the middle finger, then posting the photo on social media with the title "Real Gs steal cop cars n don't give a FUCK!", ... or, a Rochester, NY Police officer stacking beer cups on his head, at at a BBQ festival... it seems as though Rochester, NY Police officers just can't stop showing just how unprofessional they really are.
And now, you can add the photo on the right, to the long list of Rochester, NY Police officers degrading themselves, and their badge.
The photo, which shows a Rochester, NY Police officer posing with what looks to be some tipsy, cup holding festival goers, one wearing the RPD officer's hat, was sent to me by a person who attended the Rochester, NY East End Festival, on Friday, June 14, 2013.
"I was shocked because random drunks were literally just grabbing it off his head to take pics and he just kept posing with them", the man wrote in his email, adding "Everyone around was a little confused as to why he would allow people to just do that."
Like I always say, always have your cell phones ready and RECORD!, RECORD!, RECORD!
Captain Jake VanReenen with Monroe County, NY Sheriff's deputies following closely behind. Photo by Davy V.
Like many hard working Americans, Captain Jake VanReenen is trying to make an honest living.
In 2010 VanReenen, 24, opened up TowBoatUS in Rochester, NY.
Capt. VanReenen lives aboard a boat in the Genesee river, where he monitors a VHF band radio, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week throughout the boating season, for calls of disabled vessels.
But, VanReenen says, the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Department Marine Unit is making it nearly impossible for him to stay in business.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff's boat Photo by Davy V.
How?
By interfering.
Not just with his business.
But with a well established maritime code.
According to VanReenen, when it comes to marine assistance, the United States Coast Guard has a very well written policy.
If a boater has an issue, say they run out of gas, and they don't have a TowBoatUS membership, (the equivalent of AAA for motorists), they may use their VHF radio, and the call would go to the US Coast Guard.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff's boat Photo by Davy V.
The USCG will then do an assessment of the situation, to determine if it's an emergency, or not.
If the USCG determines that it's the latter, they will then monitor the situation and act as a marine operator, providing the disabled mariner with the option to contact a commercial salvage company, which in Rochester would be TowBoatUS, or the USCG can issue a "MARB", which stands for Marine Assistance Request Broadcast, asking for any good Samaritans to help the boater in distress.
Photo by Davy V.
But VanReenen says that the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Marine Unit is not respecting that policy, which exists in waterways, and ports throughout the U.S.
In fact, last winter Captain VanReenen worked in Miami Florida, where he says, the Mami-Dade Police Marine Patrol does not interfere with boating tow services when it comes to non-emergency calls.
"In Miami, they would sit there for an hour and talk with the boaters as they wait for the tow service to arrive, but they will not interfere", said Captain VanReenen.
Captain VanReenen says that most of the time, as soon as a disabled boater hits the radio, the Monroe County Sheriff's deputies swoop right in, completely ignoring policy, by not letting the US Coast Guard do their job, and costing him thousands of dollars in jobs lost.
VanReenen says what ends up happening is that deputies will come in to a non-emergency situation and assist boaters by towing them in, and he says the situation is getting so bad, that he's having trouble staying afloat.
Now, some may say that they don't see a problem with Monroe County, NY Sheriff's deputies assisting disabled boaters, for free.
Captain VanReenen couldn't disagree more.
"If your car breaks down on the highway, the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's department, or any other law enforcement agency won't get you gas", says VanReenen, adding "They won't tow you, so why should they do it on the water, in a non-emergency situation?"
"Boating is a luxury", Captain VanReenen says.
"If you are going boating you should be prepared and not rely on the Monroe County Sheriff's department to help you when you run out of fuel or have a dead battery. They are there for law enforcement and search and rescue. Not to act as a towing company. Is Monroe County educated on Admiralty law? They are assuming all risk when they take a disabled boat in tow. They are not properly trained. The Monroe County Sheriff's Marine Unit does not hold USCG Captains licenses and overall, have poor risk assessment. They are using tax payer money to compete and put a tax paying company out of business."
"Why should the tax payers of Monroe County have to pay for some guy who owns a $200,000 boat, who didn't want to spend $ 67.00 for a yearly membership that would have covered him?", says VanReenen.
I have to say I agree with Captain VanReenen.
Just last week, it was reported on Rochester news that Monroe County, NY topped the list of "Financially Stressed" counties in New York State, and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks is already talking about possibly raising taxes by 28 percent.
With such news reports of Monroe County being financially stressed, I think Monroe County taxpayers should at least know that the Monroe County Sheriff's department is spending thousands of dollars weekly, in fuel costs, cruising around in pricey, state of the art boats like the one in the photos, outfitted with three 300 HP engines.
And there you have it, Monroe County, NY taxpayer dollars at work.
Click Play to see video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff's Marine Unit deouties ignoring Captain Jake VanReenen's call to them, as they tow boat.
Click Play to see a Monroe County, NY Sheriff boat following Captain VanReenen and myself on the Genesee river near Lake Ontario.
Click Play to see a Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy tell me he can't comment after he tries to make small talk with Captain VanReenen
Sylvester Pritchett's eye after being beaten, and tased by Rochester, NY and Monroe County, NY probation officers.
A Rochester, NY woman is using Facebook, asking for help in locating video of RPD officers who she says beat, tased, and then arrested her husband.
According to Shaneka Grady-Pritchett, the incident occurred on Thursday June 20 around 8:00 pm on Weaver St., on Rochester's east side.
Pritchett's husband, Sylvester Pritchett was attempting intervene in an altercation involving his daughter, when he says a Monroe County, NY Probation officer charged Pritchett.
It was then Pritchett's wife says, that a group of 10 to 15 Rochester, NY Police officers jumped on her husband, hitting with batons, kneeing and kicking him.
Shaneka Grady-Pritchett said that while the group of RPD officers were beating her husband, two more RPD officers were pushing people back, calling people motherfuckers, referring to women as bitches, waving guns, and threatening to arrest people.
Sylvester Pritchett's eye after being beaten, and tased by Rochester, NY and Monroe County, NY probation officers.
Grady-Pritchett says her husband's daughter told one of the RPD officers that they didn't have to beat her father like that, and she asked the officer for his name.
The officer told the young woman, "I kill people and get away with it."
"They were so unprofessional, not just with him on the ground, but with the crowd control. They showed up to that incident and made it worse.", said Grady-Pritchett.
Pritchett says that the group of police officers were piling up on me another, reaching over each other, and swinging their batons, and that it looked like something out of a cartoon.
At one point Pritchett says, the Rochester, NY Police officers were so out of control, that a female RPD officer was accidentally tased by a fellow officer.
Then Pritchett says, her husband who was on the ground and not resisting, was tased by a Monroe County, NY probation officer.
Shaneka Pritchett was then thrown to the ground, and had a knee placed on her back, after becoming emotional seeing her husband being beaten, and tased.
Sylvester Pritchett was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, obstruction of governmental administration, or "O.G.A.".
According to Sylvester Pritchett, after he was arrested, he was taken to the Rochester Police department's east side division located on N. Clinton Ave., where he says, an interesting conversation took place.
Pritchett says that as he was being transported to an ambulance, a female RPD officer told him she didn't like his kind.
Pritchett then says that after he told the officer that he didn't do anything wrong, that he was just trying to calm his daughters down, the officer told him "I was the one that hit you on your legs, will you accept my apology?"
Sylvester Pritchett said the probation officer then told him "I was the one who was tasing you, I'm sorry."
Pritchett says he told both the RPD officer and the probation officer that he accepted their apologies.
This is Rochester, NY Police Chief Janes Sheppard's "Operation Cool Down", in full effect.
Abusing and beating innocent citizens.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY VIDEO, OR KNOWS ANYONE WHO HAS VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT, PLEASE CONTACT ME.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy Steven Stepnick
Photo by Davy V.
On Sunday June 23rd, I took my daughter to the IHOP restaurant in Henrietta, NY, around 6:30 pm.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed 4 Monroe County, NY Sheriff cruisers also pulling in.
At first I didn't think anything of it, as I figured they were going inside to eat, but then, as I parked, I realized they were there for something else.
As I was getting ready to get out of the car, and get my daughter out of her car seat, I saw two deputies about 50 feet off to my left.
I then noticed one of the deputies putting on his leather gloves, while the second deputy was peering around the corner of the restaurant, looking at an open door near the back of the building,
Having already returned my car off, and not exactly sure what was going on, or if I should even get out of my car or not, I decided to record done video.
As you can see in the first video below, after just a few seconds of recording, I noticed that the second deputy was holding his service weapon, in what appeared to be a shooting stance, and pointing it towards the open door.
Since I had my daughter with me, I stopped recording, turned my car on, and drive away.
As I pulled out of the parking lot, I saw that both deputies were laughing with one another, and the second deputy, who was holding the gun, was waving it around as if simulating shooting, much like kids do when playing cops and robbers, then the deputy pointed the gun at my car, and laughed with his partner, as he looked right at me.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy points gun,
seconds before pointing it at me and my daughter.
Photo by Davy V.
Upset and in complete shock at what I just witnessed, I drove to the McDonald's directly behind the IHOP, all the while thinking what I should do.
I then drove back to the IHOP parking lot, after seeing that whatever situation there had been, was now over, as two different deputies were conversing.
Watch the second video below, as Monroe County, NY Sheriff Zone B deputy Steven Stepnick first walks away, then drives away, as I repeatedly tell him that a MCSO deputy pointed a gun at me and my daughter.
Also in that video, another deputy walks away from me, completely ignoring me when I ask him for his name.
At one point in the video you can hear Deputy Stepnick say "It has nothing to do with me", before telling me to "Have a good day", then driving off.
Apart from the fact that this deputy pointed a gun at my vehicle, with my daughter inside, these deputies put other innocent people, including customers not only at IHOP, but at other nearby restaurants at risk of being seriously hurt, or worse.
Not to mention, innocent children and their parents were enjoying a beautiful day at a go kart and miniature golf attraction, less than 200 feet away.
What if that gun had gone off?
NOTE: I have put in calls to the Monroe County, NY Sheriff's department, but have not received a call back.
Click Play to watch video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy with gun drawn putting innocent people in danger.
Click Play to watch video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff Deputy Steven Stepnick
Rochester, NY Police officer's late night rendezvous with woman at Great Harvest Bread Co. after closing time.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is priceless.
Take the video below, for example.
Great Harvest Bread Co., 210 Park Ave. Rochester, NY
A Rochester, NY Police officer driving cruiser E-30 was caught having a late night rendezvous with a woman at the Great Harvest Bread Company eatery, located at 210 Park Ave., on the corner of Park and Goodman St., Wednesday night, June 19th.
The two were observed sitting together at a small table, outside the business, at 10:00 p.m.
The Great Harvest Bread Company closes at 9:00 p.m.
Exactly how long the two were there for is not known, but the Rochester, NY Police officer, and the woman, who was driving a small SUV, left at 10:25 p.m.
It is possible they were there since closing time.
There you go Rochester, NY, your taxpayer dollars hard at work.
Rochester, NY Police officer driving cruiser E-69, playing dumb. Photo by Davy V.
If the Rochester, NY Police department gave out awards for "Best acting when being video recorded by Davy V.", I'm sure RPD Chief James Sheppard would nominate the officer in the video below.
Here's the story:
Friday afternoon I was on my way to the Hall of Justice to sit in on some proceedings in my good friend, Judge Elliott's courtroom.
As I approached the intersection of West Main and Fitzhugh streets, I heard several loud car horns.
I then saw a grey Chevy Impala, which was stopped at the red light, start to reverse down Fitzhugh Street, nearly hitting a vehicle behind it, whose driver was also waiting for the red light, and forcing that vehicle, and the one behind it, to go around the Impala.
I then realized two disturbing things.
First, the grey Impala was actually an official law enforcement vehicle, possibly a probation officer, since the Monroe County, NY Probation offices are located right on Fitzhugh St., in downtown Rochester.
Second, a Rochester, NY Police officer who was sitting in his cruiser, E-69, which was parked on the street, witnessed the Impala backing up, and nearly causing at least one accident.
I immediately began video recording.
As you can see in the first video below, the law enforcement officer in the grey Chevy Impala, is seen backing the vehicle up at least 40 feet.
You can also see the RPD officer look right at the law enforcement officer, but... he DOES NOTHING.
No surprise there.
Now is this corruption?
Is it misconduct?
I believe so.
You see, this officer witnessed an individual driving in a reckless manner, and ignored it.
He did so because the individual is a law enforcement officer.
This RPD officer gave him a free pass.
It's the "Good ol' boys' code, that law enforcement officers subscribe to.
One thing is for sure... had that been me or YOU backing up like that and nearly causing accidents, I'm pretty sure that officer would NOT have ignored that!
In the second video, watch as the officer acts, well, just watch what he does.
Just one hint... look as the officer looks around, acting as if he's clueless to what I'm asking him, before pretending to be responding to an imaginary dispatch call!
The best part?
One of my attorneys, David Morabito, was on his car on his way to court, and saw me video recording, and gave me a thumbs up!
City of Rochester, NY Security officer had no comment when I asked him what gives him the right to park illegally. Photo by Davy V.
According to officer Dugan, who works security for the City of Rochester, NY, his department is under the control of the Rochester, NY Police department.
"We work for the Rochester Police department, we are paid by Rochester Police", said Dugan.
Well, being that City of Rochester security officers work for the Rochester Police department, and are paid by the Rochester Police department, it makes sense that they would, well, behave like the Rochester Police department.
Including parking wherever they like, whenever they like, simply to eat lunch.
Just because they can.
Case in point:
A City of Rochester, NY security officer didn't care where he parked when he stopped at Chester Cab Pizza, located at 707 Park Ave.
Rochester, NY Police department logo on jacket sleeve. Photo by Davy V.
The security officer parked his official City of Rochester security vehicle, 061044, in front of a clearly posted "NO STANDING" sign, then walked into the pizza shop.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the security officer, seen in the video below, walked back his security vehicle, carrying a pizza box.
Officer Dugan told me something else, I found both interesting, as well as ironic.
City of Rochester, NY official security vehicle 061044 Photo by Davy V.
He said that in addition to patrolling City parks, buildings, and locking cemetery gates, City of Rochester security officers also have the power to issue tickets.
Tickets such as having a vehicle parked illegally.
In the video below, I ask the security officer what gives him the right to park illegally.
Watch his response.
Note: After I got into my vehicle, this same security officer, obviously not too happy I video recorded him, followed me for approx. 5 minutes all the way to the intersection of Alexander St. and South Ave.
City of Rochester, NY Security officer had no comment when I asked him what gives him the right to park illegally. Photo by Davy V.
According to officer Dugan, who works security for the City of Rochester, NY, his department is under the control of the Rochester, NY Police department.
"We work for the Rochester Police department, we are paid by Rochester Police", said Dugan.
Well, being that City of Rochester security officers work for the Rochester Police department, and are paid by the Rochester Police department, it makes sense that they would, well, behave like the Rochester Police department.
Including parking wherever they like, whenever they like, simply to eat lunch.
Just because they can.
Case in point:
A City of Rochester, NY security officer didn't care where he parked when he stopped at Chester Cab Pizza, located at 707 Park Ave.
Rochester, NY Police department logo on jacket sleeve. Photo by Davy V.
The security officer parked his official City of Rochester security vehicle, 061044, in front of a clearly posted "NO STANDING" sign, then walked into the pizza shop.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the security officer, seen in the video below, walked back his security vehicle, carrying a pizza box.
Officer Dugan told me something else, I found both interesting, as well as ironic.
City of Rochester, NY official security vehicle 061044 Photo by Davy V.
He said that in addition to patrolling City parks, buildings, and locking cemetery gates, City of Rochester security officers also have the power to issue tickets.
Tickets such as having a vehicle parked illegally.
In the video below, I ask the security officer what gives him the right to park illegally.
Watch his response.
Note: After I got into my vehicle, this same security officer, obviously not too happy I video recorded him, followed me for approx. 5 minutes all the way to the intersection of Alexander St. and South Ave.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff's cruiser 2477 illegally parked, in "NO STANDING/NO PARKING" zone, and blocking a fire hydrant, by being less than 15 feet from it.
Exactly two weeks after I exposed a Monroe County, NY Sheriff's deputy illegally parked blocking a fire hydrant, in a clearly marked "NO STANDING/NO PARKING" zone, the MCSD continues to show that they indeed are, above the law.
Wednesday afternoon, MCSD cruiser 2477 was spotted illegally parked in a NO PARKING zone, and less than 15 feet from a fire hydrant, on Irving Place, next to the Monroe County Executive officer building, in downtown Rochester, NY.
Irving Place is where the Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy illegally parked his cruiser, 2467, and walked inside the Monroe County Executive Office building, carrying a tray with what looked to be coffee cups, and some baked goods, on Wednesday May 29, 2013.
Monroe County, NY Sheriff's cruiser 2477
As can be seen in the video below, that deputy refused to comment after I asked him why he had parked so cruiser illegally, also in a NO PARKING zone, and blocking a fire hydrant.
In fact, not only did that deputy refuse to comment, other than to say "Not on camera", but he also refused to tell me his name, despite me asking him for it several times.
Of course, there will be some who will think, and ask, what's the big deal?
"NO STANDING/ NO PARKING" signs on Irving Place.
Well, look at this way... if that were me, OR YOU who had parked our vehicle like that, in a clearly posted "NO STANDING/NO PARKING" zone, and blocking a fire hydrant, our vehicles would not only be ticketed, but they would probably be towed away.
Click play to watch video of Monroe County, NY Sheriff deputy who parked illegally, then refused to give his name, as he walked away.
Rochester, NY Police officer driving cruiser W-42
shopping at hardware store in Gates, NY
Another example of Rochester, NY taxpayer dollars being misused.
A Rochester, NY Police officer driving cruiser W-42, was seen shopping at a Mr. Seconds Bargain Outlet, Tuesday afternoon.
As you can see in the video below, the officer exits the store, located at 54 Spencerport Rd., in the Town of Gates, NY, holding a bag.
The officer then gets in his vehicle, and drives off.
After placing a call to dispatch, an operator refused to release the officer's name, or say if he was on duty, or perhaps on lunch.
Rochester, NY Police officer driving cruiser W-42
leaving hardware store in Gates, NY
Either way, even if he was on lunch, he's still out of his jurisdiction, in another Town, shopping at a hardware store, using an official vehicle, and gas, paid for by the taxpayers of Rochester, NY.
Richard Palermo is assaulted by Rochester, NY Police officers
as his mother pleads for them to stop beating her son.
Rick Palermo and his friends had gone to Rochester NY's East End night district to celebrate his friend's birthday.
Palermo would have never imagined that a night that began on such a happy note, would end with him being thrown on a city sidewalk, by at least 5 Rochester, NY Police officers, where he was assaulted, including being kneed, and punched, as his own mother pleaded with the officers to stop beating her son.
"That night replays in my mind, and up until recently I was scared to come forth with any information because I couldn't find a lawyer who would take my civil rights case against the RPD", explains Palermo.
"Luckily there was someone who was there that night who videotaped the whole incident which now serves to be just a painful reminder to me of how they treated me and what they did to me."
"Myself and four of my close friends all went out for one of my friend's twenty first birthday", said Palermo.
"It was the same week as the Rochester International Jazz Festival, so there was extra security on hand that night. My mother and her husband were downtown at the Jazz Festival when her, and her husband met us out. We were at Coyote Joes on the corner of east and Alexander and stayed until closing time which was 2 am."
"As we were making our way out and started to walk on the sidewalk towards our car, I had seen an ex-girlfriend of mine who had never met my mother, so we stopped and I introduced her to my mom. The guy she was with did not like that she was talking to me, so he grabbed her arm and said 'Come on let's go'. She refused to do what he said at that exact moment so I said 'She will be with you in a moment buddy", said Palermo.
"As soon as I said that the other guy walked up to me and pushed me saying 'Fuck you!'', so I said 'Fuck you' back to him, and we were in the middle of a crowd of people."
"The situation never got physical and actually my mom grabbed my arm and sad 'Honey let's go!', so I screamed out one last time towards the the other guy as I was walking away, and that's when all hell broke lose. The next thing I knew I was being ran up on by five Rochester Police officers. They pinned me up against the fence of Coyote Joes, and continued to punch, kick, and knee me on all areas of my body."
"Once they threw me to the pavement I was lying there face first on the concrete, while two officers were pinning their knees onto the back of both my legs, and one officer kneed me in my face three times until I became nearly unconscious. All I can remember from that night was my poor mother begging and pleading for the officers to stop doing this to her son because I didn't deserve it, and all they could say to my mom was 'Get back before we arrest you!'
Rochester Police officer gets ready to knee Richard Palermo.
"They threw me in the back of the squad car and left me there with my hands cuffed behind my back and no window open in the middle of the summer night heat, for over an hour. I was bleeding pretty bad from my right eyebrow area due to the repetition of knees to the face and I also had gash marks to the middle of my back from being punched by an officer who wrapped his handcuffs around his hand and used them in a brass knuckle, type manner on me."
Rochester, NY Police also illegally searched Palermo's friend's car, as can be see in the video below.
That officer, looks a lot like RPD officer Aaron Brown.
Rochester, NY Police officer illegally searching
Richard Palermo's friend's car.
Palermo was treated at the hospital for injuries sustained in the assault by Rochester Police.
In addition to multiple contusions and abrasions, Palermo also reinjured his shoulder, which he had undergone surgery for prior to the assault by RPD.
"I got a full scholarship straight out of high school to play football at Connecticut State and had some issues with my shoulder about two months prior to being assaulted by RPD officers, I had arthroscopic surgery on my left shoulder, and earlier, the same day of the incident, I was cleared to take my sling off."
"No one deserves to be treated that way", said Palermo, who says his mother, seen in the video holding a rose he bought her, and his father, who works for the Rochester, NY Fire department, were furious over how Rochester Police officers abused their son.
Some may ask why am I even writing about an incident which happened several years ago.
The answer is simple.
For many being abused and assaulted by a law enforcement officer, the emotional pain lasts longer than any physical pain sustained as a result of being beaten.
In fact, the emotional scars that come with being violated by those whose job is to uphold the law, serve and protect, can be overwhelming.
Much like the trauma a rape victim has to live with, including the feeling that comes knowing their body has been violated, as well as the fear of having to confront their abuser in court, or run into them in public, police abuse victims endure similar effects, from the fear of retaliation by police if they take action, to knowing that in many cases, the officers will get away with it, simply because they are police officers.
For a man, it can be even harder to come to terms with, especially in a society which subscribes to the "be tough" and "don't show any emotion" attitude when it comes to men, and frowns on a man showing any emotion, or showing we are human.
Also, Richard Palermo represents one of countless victims of police brutality, whose stories never make headlines.
Richard Palermo represents one of countless victims of police brutality who live with the emotional pain of not only having been a used and violated by those who are supposed to protect us all, but also knowing that the officers in his incident got away with it.
What also interested in telling Palermo's story, was something he told me which I found almost as equally disturbing as the incident in which RPD officers beat him.
When I asked Palermo if he brought a civil case against the City of Rochester and the Rochester, NY Police department, his reply was unfortunately something I have heard much too often.
Palermo said no lawyer wanted to take the case.
"One lawyer, Felix Lapine said no, and he said no one would want to go against the City of Rochester."
Unfortunately, he was right.
Palermo tried other attorneys, and not one of them wanted to go against the City of Rochester, or the Rochester, NY Police department.
After all, like I always say, at the end of the day, the RPD is gang.
As an Iraq war veteran, Adam Arroyo saw more
than his share of bullets flying.
However, Arroyo would have never imagined that
he would one day come home, to find his own
apartment riddled with bullet holes, and his best friend, and pet dog Cindy, shot to death, by Buffalo, NY Police officers, after
they executed a search warrant.
On the wrong apartment.
That's exactly what Arroyo found Monday evening when he returned to his Buffalo apartment.
Buffalo Police officers busted his door, entered his apartment, and shot Cindy.
"She's over here, chained up, and look at all these bullet holes man, look at the blood right there," Arroyo told Buffalo's WKBW News.
Adam Arroyo, Iraq war veteran.
Buffalo Police left a search warrant in Arroyo's apartment, which lists the apartment to be searched, as the upper apartment.
Arroyo lives in the upper-rear apartment, which has a completely separate entrance, and the mailbox is clearly marked with his name.
The suspect named in the search warrant is described as a male black, wanted on suspicion of selling crack cocaine..
Arroyo is Latino.
"For police to wrongfully come into my house and murder my dog, it wasn't that they felt threatened, no, they murdered my dog," said Arroyo as his eyes welled up with tears, as he added, "That was my dog, man, that was my dog, they didn't ave to do that, you know. They didn't have to do that."
Holes in kitchen wall, from buckshot fired by
Buffalo, NY Police officers, as they executed "Cindy".
Photo by Davy V.
Buffalo, NY Police spokesperson Michael DeGeorge says the department's Internal Affairs division has launched an investigation into the case, but also added that police officers believed they had the right address.
Not only does Adam Arroyo, a veteran who served this country, return home to find his best friend shot dead, laying in a pool of blood, but he also will have to pay to have Cindy cremated.
Arroyo also has to pay to repair his own apartment door.
Another disgusting case of trigger-happy cops, executing an innocent family pet, this time after raiding the wrong apartment.
WARNING! DISTURBING, GRAPHIC PHOTOS!
Photo provided by Adam Arroyo
shows bullet hole on Cindy's neck.
Photo provided by Adam Arroyo
shows Cindy with bullet hole.
Photo provided by Adam Arroyo
Contact Buffalo, NY Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda (716) 851-4526 or 4571 Contact Buffalo, NY Mayor Byron Brown (716) 851-4841
Thursday I traveled to Buffalo, NY and spoke with Adam Arroyo. I took photos, and did a video interview with him which I will be posting soon.
Juan Montanez says Rochester, NY Police officer Nicholas A. Thomas tried to kill him.
It all started as Montanez, and his daughter Stephanie were going for a ride on their motor scooters Sunday afternoon.
As the pair were coming down Ave. D near the intersection of Hudson Ave., a Rochester Police car heading down Hudson Ave., made a right hand turn onto Ave. D, and in front of the pair.
"He was going very slow, and driving like he was going to pull over to the right", said Montanez.
Juan said he then put on his left turn signal, and went around the RPD cruiser, with his daughter following behind.
It was then that Juan noticed that the RPD cruiser pulled back off the side of the street, picking up speed, and began following the father and daughter closely behind.
As the pair crossed the intersection of Ave. D and Joseph Ave., the Rochester Police officer turned on his lights and pulled him over.
That RPD officer was Nicholas A. Thomas, badge 1851, driving cruiser E-24.
Montanez and his daughter Stephanie parked their scooters near the sidewalk.
According to Montanez, Thomas asked him why he was tailgating him.
Montanez replied that he was not tailgating him, that he simply thought the officer was pulling over since he was going so slow, so they went around him.
Thomas then asked Montanez if he had any weapons on him, as the officer lifted his shirt up.
Montanez replied that he did not.
It was then that Montanez says Thomas grabbed his arm and pepper sprayed him at close range with the noxious substance going right in his eyes.
Montanez's daughter Stephanie describes what she saw.
"The officer had a very bad attitude from the time he pulled us over", said Stephanie, before adding, "He grabbed my father's hand and pepper sprayed my dad right in his eyes."
"The officer kept spraying, then he called backup, a lady police officer with blonde hair and shades came , and the officer told me 'fall back before I spray you.'
At this point, more officers arrived, and three Rochester Police officers grabbed Stephanie, with one male officer grabbing the young woman from behind, putting her in a head and arm lock.
"They grabbed my arms behind me, locking them and placing his arms behind my neck, pushing my head forward, and threw me to the grass", said Stephanie.
"The officer then put his knee on my face, pushing down, and telling me to stop resisting, but I wasn't fighting, I was looking for my glasses which had fallen off when they threw me on the ground."
A neighbor on Ave. D, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation by Rochester Police officers, says he witnessed the RPD officers assaulting Stephanie.
"What really bothered me about the whole incident was how it was a male officer who put his hands on a young girl, putting her in a headlock position and throwing her to the ground, that was what really bothered me, a man putting his hands on a woman", said the man.
Stephanie says there was one Rochester Police officer whose behavior stood out from the rest.
"There was one officer who picked my glasses up and put them in my face, then they fell off again, and again, this officer put them on, as I was handcuffed", said Stephanie, before adding, "This officer was alright, he wasn't nasty to me, he told me to calm down and breathe."
Stephanie then said that she could hear her father screaming for help, saying that he couldn't breathe.
Juan Montanez says that he was having difficulty breathing and tried telling officer Nick Thomas this but Thomas ignored him.
Montanez says that after Rochester Police officer Nick Thomas pepper sprayed him, and he pleaded with officer Thomas to please help him as he couldn't breathe, Thomas turned around and told him he was giving him a headache, then got out of his car, opened the rear door, stepped in and pepper sprayed Montanez again, then put a spit mask over his head, and turned the cruiser's heat on.
After several minutes of having the heat cranked up, with Montanez's face covered in the mask, Thomas rolled down the window, as Montanez stuck his head out, gasping for air, and throwing up.
Montanez says officer Thomas then drove his cruiser up the street, with Montanez still gasping for air with his head and upper body outside the window.
Officer Thomas then got out, pushed Montanez back in, and rolled the window back up.
Montanez recalls another Rochester Police officer coming over to the car and telling officer Thomas to take Montanez to the hospital.
Thomas replied to the officer "It's just pepper spray."
In the video below, Montanez, a construction worker and family man, becomes emotional as he talks about his horrific experience in the back of a Rochester Police cruiser, and not being able to breath, after being pepper sprayed, and having a mask placed over his head and face.
Montanez was taken to the Monroe County Jail and charged with Resisting Arrest, Harassment 2nd, and Following Too Closely.
Bail was set at $ 650.00.
Montanez's daughter Stephanie was also taken to Monroe County Jail and charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration (O.G.A.) 2nd, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct.
Stephanie's bail was set at $ 1,100.00.
Stephanie's mom Julie, said she can't believe what Rochester, NY Police officers did to her family.
"I was shopping, and as I was heading home I saw the scooters, and my daughter's scooter was laying on its side and I saw the mirror was broken, I thought my daughter had been in an accident!"
"I went and bailed them out, seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, money I had to pay our bills."
I will be updating this post soon.
Click Play to watch video of Stephanie describing incident
Click Play to watch video of Juan Montanez describing incident
Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard (center),
and his Gang of Thugs continue to terrorize innocent citizens.
Juan Montanez says Rochester, NY Police officer Nicholas A. Thomas tried to kill him.
It all started as Montanez, and his daughter Stephanie were going for a ride on their motor scooters Sunday afternoon.
As the pair were coming down Ave. D near the intersection of Hudson Ave., a Rochester Police car heading down Hudson Ave., made a right hand turn onto Ave. D, and in front of the pair.
"He was going very slow, and driving like he was going to pull over to the right", said Montanez.
Juan said he then put on his left turn signal, and went around the RPD cruiser, with his daughter following behind.
It was then that Juan noticed that the RPD cruiser pulled back off the side of the street, picking up speed, and began following the father and daughter closely behind.
As the pair crossed the intersection of Ave. D and Joseph Ave., the Rochester Police officer turned on his lights and pulled him over.
That RPD officer was Nicholas A. Thomas, badge 1851, driving cruiser E-24.
Rochester, NY Police officer
Nicholas A. Thomas
Montanez and his daughter Stephanie parked their scooters near the sidewalk.
According to Montanez, Thomas asked him why he was tailgating him.
Montanez replied that he was not tailgating him, that he simply thought the officer was pulling over since he was going so slow, so they went around him.
Thomas then asked Montanez if he had any weapons on him, as the officer lifted his shirt up.
Montanez replied that he did not.
It was then that Montanez says Thomas grabbed his arm and pepper sprayed him at close range with the noxious substance going right in his eyes.
Montanez's daughter Stephanie describes what she saw.
"The officer had a very bad attitude from the time he pulled us over", said Stephanie, before adding, "He grabbed my father's hand and pepper sprayed my dad right in his eyes."
"The officer kept spraying, then he called backup, a lady police officer with blonde hair and shades came , and the officer told me 'fall back before I spray you.'
At this point, more officers arrived, and three Rochester Police officers grabbed Stephanie, with one male officer grabbing the young woman from behind, putting her in a head and arm lock.
"They grabbed my arms behind me, locking them and placing his arms behind my neck, pushing my head forward, and threw me to the grass", said Stephanie.
Stephanie Olivo's bail receipt.
"The officer then put his knee on my face, pushing down, and telling me to stop resisting, but I wasn't fighting, I was looking for my glasses which had fallen off when they threw me on the ground."
A neighbor on Ave. D, who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation by Rochester Police officers, says he witnessed the RPD officers assaulting Stephanie.
"What really bothered me about the whole incident was how it was a male officer who put his hands on a young girl, putting her in a headlock position and throwing her to the ground, that was what really bothered me, a man putting his hands on a woman", said the man.
Stephanie says there was one Rochester Police officer whose behavior stood out from the rest.
"There was one officer who picked my glasses up and put them in my face, then they fell off again, and again, this officer put them on, as I was handcuffed", said Stephanie, before adding, "This officer was alright, he wasn't nasty to me, he told me to calm down and breathe."
Stephanie then said that she could hear her father screaming for help, saying that he couldn't breathe.
Juan Montanez says that he was having difficulty breathing and tried telling officer Nick Thomas this but Thomas ignored him.
Juan Montanez's bail receipt.
Montanez says that after Rochester Police officer Nick Thomas pepper sprayed him, and he pleaded with officer Thomas to please help him as he couldn't breathe, Thomas turned around and told him he was giving him a headache, then got out of his car, opened the rear door, stepped in and pepper sprayed Montanez again, then put a spit mask over his head, and turned the cruiser's heat on.
After several minutes of having the heat cranked up, with Montanez's face covered in the mask, Thomas rolled down the window, as Montanez stuck his head out, gasping for air, and throwing up.
Montanez says officer Thomas then drove his cruiser up the street, with Montanez still gasping for air with his head and upper body outside the window.
Officer Thomas then got out, pushed Montanez back in, and rolled the window back up.
Montanez recalls another Rochester Police officer coming over to the car and telling officer Thomas to take Montanez to the hospital.
Thomas replied to the officer "It's just pepper spray."
In the video below, Montanez, a construction worker and family man, becomes emotional as he talks about his horrific experience in the back of a Rochester Police cruiser, and not being able to breath, after being pepper sprayed, and having a mask placed over his head and face.
Montanez was taken to the Monroe County Jail and charged with Resisting Arrest, Harassment 2nd, and Following Too Closely.
Rochester, NY Police officer Nicholas A. Thomas,
badge 1851, listed above, signed off on this citation,
after nearly killing a father, and family man.
Bail was set at $ 650.00.
Montanez's daughter Stephanie was also taken to Monroe County Jail and charged with Obstructing Governmental Administration (O.G.A.) 2nd, Resisting Arrest, and Disorderly Conduct.
Stephanie's bail was set at $ 1,100.00.
Stephanie's mom Julie, said she can't believe what Rochester, NY Police officers did to her family.
"I was shopping, and as I was heading home I saw the scooters, and my daughter's scooter was laying on its side and I saw the mirror was broken, I thought my daughter had been in an accident!"
"I went and bailed them out, seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, money I had to pay our bills."
I will be updating this post soon.
Click Play to watch video of Stephanie describing incident
Click Play to watch video of Juan Montanez describing incident
A YouTube video which shows two Rochester, NY Police officers responding to an apartment house, where the complainant, alleges that the upstairs neighbors are making noise and threatening him and his father, actually shows something else.
Something rarely caught on video.
An inside look at just how unprofessional Rochester Police officers really are.
The video, which is shot by the complainant, shows RPD officers going up some stairs, at which point a female officer bangs on the apartment door, while the second officer can be seen standing on the stairs.
After no one answers the door, the female officer again bangs on the door, then yells "Open the fucking door!"
A young man then answers the door, and the female RPD officer is heard asking him "How many
of you are in here?", before adding "Let's go and talk to all of you, let's go!", as she enters the apartment, without a warrant.
While some may argue that the young man did nothing to tell the officer that she could not enter, the fact is the officer NEVER asked if she could enter, and she never asked for the young man to ask the other people to come to the door.
Instead, this RPD officer clearly abuses her authority with classic intimidation tactics, which actually began with her yelling "Open the fucking door!"
Rochester, NY Police officer
refuses to give man a police report.
Although the video is approximately 6 months old, it is very much relevant, in that it shows, and proves what I have said for over 17 years as an activist, filmmaker, and writer exposing police misconduct, and corruption -- that contrary to what the Rochester Police department wants people to believe, that they pride themselves on serving with professionalism and courtesy, quite the opposite is true.
"Open the fucking door!" ?
Chief Sheppard, at which point in the police academy do they teach the new RPD recruits that?
But wait.
It gets worse.
As you can see in part two of the video, the complainant, clearly not satisfied with the RPD's response, or lack thereof, asks the female officer if the tenants are over 21, and the officer replies "Are they over 21?, I don't know if they're over 21, I didn't ask them."
You didn't ask them?
Ok, let me get this straight.
Rochester Police officers respond to a call where the complainant states that the upstairs neighbors are intoxicated and are threatening him and his father.
This RPD officer then admits herself, that the individuals are "wasted", but she doesn't ask them how old they are?
So despite the officer knowing that individuals are intoxicated, and as she herself said, "wasted", she doesn't feel it's necessary to ask the ages of these individuals?
As a police officer, isn't it her job to ascertain if there are any underage drinkers?
Wow!
But wait.
Yes, it gets worse.
The video then shows both Rochester Police officers repeatedly refuse to issue a police report, despite the caller requesting one several times.
Clearly being lazy, by not wanting to fill out paperwork, the female officer simply tells the complainant that the individuals "are completely wasted and they don't know what they're saying", and that she told them to "Knock it off."
"They don't know what they are saying"?
"Knock it off"?
There you have it, Rochester, NY... your taxpayer dollars at work.
According to neighbors, it appears as if the RPD officer fell asleep at the wheel.
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