Rochester, NY Taxpayer Dollars at Work; RPD officers Travel Outside their Jurisdiction to Eat at Asian Restaurant

By Davy V.

Hibachi Sushi Buffet in Henrietta, NY.

A Rochester, NY taxpayer who follows my work, thought it was a bit strange that not one, not two, but three Rochester, NY Police cruisers were parked in South Towne Plaza, a shopping strip mall in Henrietta, NY, a suburb of Rochester.

As you can see in the photo on the right, taken by the concerned citizen, three Rochester
Police K-9 cruisers are seen parked in front of Hibachi Sushi Buffet.

And that's exactly where they were.

Eating inside.

Three Rochester, NY Police cruisers
parked in front of Hibachi Sushi Buffet restaurant.
Photo Credit: Tito

An employee at the Asian restaurant did confirm that at least three Rochester Police officers did eat at the establishment.

The employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said that when she came into work, shortly after 11:00 am, the RPD officers were already there, and that they left shortly after 1:00 pm.

While some will say what's the big deal, they were just eating lunch, I beg to differ.

This latest incident is one of many in which City of Rochester officials, including RPD officers have been spotted outside city limits, wasting taxpayer dollars, while engaged in activities clearly not work related.

And when you consider that it's the taxpayers who are footing the bill, including gas for three RPD cruisers, it's actually disgusting.

So there you have it Rochester, NY, your taxpayer dollars at work.

Note:

It is not clear if there were any K-9 dogs inside cruisers.

After leaving several messages for an RPD supervisor to contact me regarding this incident, my calls were never returned.



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Like It Never Even Happened

By Davy V.

Many of us have seen that Serv-Pro restoration company television commercial, where the company's slogan is "Like it never even happened."

Well, on Sunday afternoon, some folks in Rochester, NY acted like it never even happened.

Like what never happened?

Like the Rochester, NY Police department isn't continuing its decades-long history of abusing, innocent African-Americans and Latinos.

Benny Warr

Like on May 2, 2013, Benny Warr, an African-American one-legged amputee wasn't assaulted by white Rochester, NY cops as he sat in his motorized scooter, waiting for the city bus.

Identified only by their street names, the RPD officers known as "Rock", and "Joey", grabbed the 52-year old disabled man, slammed him the sidewalk, pepper-sprayed him, then in order to justify their Gestapo-like actions, charged Warr with resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Like what never happened?

Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull.
gets ready to punch Brenda Hardaway in the head.

Like on Tuesday August 27. 2013, 2013, Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull, who is white, didn't assault 21-year old African-American pregnant woman named Brenda Hardaway at her home.

In a video which has gone viral on the Internet, RPD officer Krull is seen driving Hardaway into a wooden porch deck post, before punching her in the head, and then throwing her to the ground.

Then again, just like in Benny Warr's incident, in an attempt to justify beating a pregnant woman, Rochester Police turned around and charged Hardaway with several misdemeanors and velonies including assaulting a police officer.

Assaulting a police officer!

A pregnant woman who was punched in the head by an RPD cop!

Oh by the way, Brenda Hardaway was just indicted on the charges by a brand jury.

And Rochester Police officer Lucas Krull is still patrolling the streets.

Now, about those folks on Sunday afternoon.

Rochester, NY's Baber AME Church hosted the annual Friends and Family Day, inviting who else but the Rochester Police department for some barbecuing fun!

Pastor James Simmons said that they want to strengthen the community by building relationships between city residents and Rochester Police.

“We want to build that opportunity between community and the police department. Often times there is a strain between the two. We want to build community policing. We want to build opportunities where people get to know officers,” said Simmons.

"A strain between the two"?

Pastor Simmons, are you referring to a white cop punching a pregnant black woman in the head, then throwing her to the ground?

Do you mean that "strain" Pastor?

Also at the cookout were the NAACP.

The NAACP?

As in the National Coalition for the Advancement of Colored People?

As in the same NAACP who continues to be silent regarding the Rochester, NY Police department's contouring abuse of African-Americans?

The same NAACP that sat at a table of Rochester-area clergy members

Yes.

That same NAACP.

They all cracked jokes with members of the Rochester, NY Police department, as they flipped burners and hots on the grill,

And acted like it never even happened.


Click Play to watch video of RPD cops beating African-American one-legged amputee.


 


Click Play to watch video of RPD cop Lucas Krull beating African-American pregnant woman.





If you believe in my work, exposing police misconduct and corruption, and covering issues mainstream, corporate-America run news media chooses to ignore,  please support my work by clicking on the "Donate" button at the top right of my blog and making a donation.

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If you don't have a PayPal account, after you enter the amount you wish to donate, look for "Don't have a Paypal account?" on bottom left side and click "continue."

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Did Rochester, NY Police Help Double Shooting Murder Suspect Get Away?

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police Chief
James Sheppard

Neighbors on Rochester, NY's Pullman Avenue say that Rochester, NY Police officers took too long in responding to a double shooting that left a 32-year old man, in critical condition, and a 27-year old woman, Walesy Alvarez, dead.

"I called 911 and asked what the hell is taking so long, they said we've got police coming". said Keith Perez, a neighbor.

"It must have been at least ten minutes before the first policemen came"

"I'm upset that the response just doesn't seem to be there", said Perez,
referring to the Rochester, NY Police department.

One woman described her attempts at calling 911, "You couldn't get through, you couldn't even get through, the phone was just ringing."

"That's the problem, we could not get through!" said the woman.

Rochester, NY Mayor Thomas Richards

Asked what he had to say about his officers' response time, a Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard said in a sarcastic tone, "We would have loved to have been here sooner."

In the meantime, Marcus Freeman, who is considered to be armed and dangerous, is somewhere out there.

Marcus Freeman,
wanted in double shooting which left
one person dead.

Click Play below to watch Rochester, NY Mayor Thomas Richards, guarded by Rochester Police officers, do the "no comment" shuffle, when I ask him what he thinks about what neighbors are saying regarding the RPD's response time.


 




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Rochester, NY Cop Shoots and Kills Dog, after it Bites Woman

By Davy V.

WARNING: Disturbing graphic photos.

The trigger-happy Rochester, NY Police department has shot and killed another dog.

This latest shooting marks the second time in less than two months that a Rochester Police officer has discharged their firearm near innocent bystanders, on a residential street.

According to Rochester Police, a woman was bitten by a dog, on DeJonge Street, on Rochester's northeast side.

Rochester, NY Police officer
Chris Burgstrom

The woman is said to have suffered a 5-inch laceration to her torso.

Rochester Police say that when an ambulance arrived, they could not reach the woman because the dog was still lose and behaving in a threatening manner.

They refused to elaborate any further.

RPD says that's when they were called.

A Rochester Police officer who arrived on the scene, immediately shot and killed the dog.

"Cinnamon"

On July 11, 2013, Rochester, NY Police officer Chris Burgstrom shot and killed "Cinnamon", a 9-year old Belgian Shepherd, twice in the head, right in front of its owner, Floyd James Jr., a U.S. Army veteran, after Burgstrom said the dog looked "aggressive".

That incident was the second time in just the past 6 months, that Rochester Police officer Chris Burgstrom has shot and killed family pet.

On January 8, 2013, Burgstrom shot and killed "Codi", a lost family dog, as his owner was looking for him.

RPD officer Burgstrom, responding to a call for a loose dog near Rochester's Charlotte Park, spotted Codi, struck the scared dog with his cruiser, then chased him down to a pier, where he removed his department-issued Remington 870 shotgun from his cruiser, and shot Codi in the back of the head, executing the innocent family pet.

Photo showing entrance wound in back of Codi's head,
and exit wound at the front.

Contact Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard at (585) 428-7033

Contact Rochester, NY Mayor Thomas Richards at (585) 428-7045


Click link below to read my piece on Rochester, NY Police officer Chris Burgstrom

http://davyv.blogspot.com/2013/08/rochester-ny-police-officer-chris.html

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Rochester, NY Woman who was Beaten by Cop is Indicted by Grand Jury; African-American Community Continues to be Silent

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull,
before punching pregnant woman in head.

They lined up in their Sunday's best.

Only it was a Friday.

Over a dozen African-American Rochester, NY clergy members spoke in front of news cameras and denounced the beating of a pregnant African-American woman, by RPD officer Lucas Krull, which was caught on video.

The video, which has gone viral, shows 21-year old Brenda Hardaway, yelling that she's pregnant, seconds before Krull being drives her into a wooden porch railing post, punches her in the head, then throws her to the ground.

Hardaway was then charged with assault, attempted obstructing governmental administration by means of a self-defense spray device, obstructing governmental administration, unlawfully possessing or selling noxious material, menacing and resisting arrest, and held in jail in lieu of $7,500.

"Release her or they're going to see something they've never seen before", said the clergymen who held an 11:00 am press conference at Faith Temple Apostolic Church Friday, led by Bishop Jerry McCullough.

“This has been happening in Rochester for quite a while and we’re appalled", McCullough said, before adding, “We’re here to do something about it, we got lawyers, we got money, we're hiring people to help us.”

Yep.

They talked the talk.

They just didn't walk the walk.

At least not yet.

We'll see.

Here's what I don't get.

Over 2,000 members of Rochester's African-American community, took to the streets and marched in downtown Rochester as part of the Trayvon Martin Million Hoodie March protests held in cities throughout the U.S.

But not one member of Rochester's African-American community has organized any rally, march, or protest, despite a white cop caught on video punching a black pregnant woman in her head!

In fact, with election time right around the corner, Rochester City Council President Lovely Warren, who is African-American, and who is running for Mayor, and who was present at that Trayvon Martin Million Hoodie march, has been extremely careful in commenting on the disturbing 5-minute video which shows RPD officer Krull beating Hardaway.

Responding to a call for Rochester, NY Police Chief James Sheppard to resign, after he supported officer Krull's actions, this is what Lovely Warren had to say:

"I have worked alongside Chief Sheppard to institute the "Policing in the Spirit of Service" model, to recruit minority and women police officers, to attend community meetings and to do youth outreach. He has been responsive, and I appreciate his willingness to come from behind his desk in public safety building and be personally present in the community. We cannot allow one incident to undo the good work that he has done, yet Chief Sheppard must take the lead to help the community understand the actions taken by the officer in question, and to repair and rebuild the community's trust."

Safe.

Sterile.

And spoken like a true politician!

Oh yeah, those clergy members?

They promised a march on City Hall.

I don't see any of them there yet.

Even though Brenda Hardaway was just indicted, by a Monroe County Grand Jury.



Note:

Interestingly enough, just one week before the incident where RPD officer Krull was caught on video assaulting a pregnant woman, I attended a mini Mayoral debate forum where I asked Lovely Warren, if elected Mayor, what would she do about the out of control, rogue, Rochester Police officers.



Click Play below to hear Rochester, NY City Council President Lovely Warren's super safe, sterile response.




Click Play to watch video of Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull beating pregnant woman

 



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Irondequoit, NY Police officer Caught on Video Threatening 15-Year Old Skateboarder: "My suggestion to you is don't get in my way, shut your mouth, and go that way... you're on my sidewalk!"

By Davy V.

Note: Even though this page exposes the Rochester, NY Police
department, from time to time, I will feature other neighboring
law enforcement agencies, such as the Irondequoit, NY Police
department.

Irondequoit, NY Police officer
threatening minor.

Like many teenagers, 15-year old Irondequoit, NY resident Drake, whose last name I have decided not to publish, since he is a minor, and has not been charged with any crime, loves skateboarding with his friends.

Unfortunately, Drake says, when it comes to skateboarding, Irondequoit, NY Police officers don't share his passion.

Take, for example an incident which occurred a couple of weeks ago while Drake was skateboarding with some friends near Norton Street, and Culver Rd.

Two Irondequoit, NY Police officers drove up to the teens, exited their cruisers, and approached the youths.

As the video below shows, Drake, shows he obviously knows a thing or two about video recording any and all interactions with law enforcement, as he wastes no time in recording the IPD officers.

The video shows the officers questioning one of Drake's friends, also a minor.

"They wanted my friend to get in the car with them", Drake tells me, after he contacted me to tell me he wanted me to have the video, because he's tired of Irondequoit Police harassing him and his friends when they're skateboarding.

In the video, Drake can be heard telling his friend "They're just going to fuck you over."

Then, one of the IPD officers can be seen walking right up to Drake.

"How about this? The next time you say the f word, and if you don't move right now, I'm going to lock you up..." says the officer.

Drake is then heard asking "For what?"

The officer, seen walking back up to the teen, replies "You can't swear in public, you just said the f word, my suggestion to you is don't get in my way, shut your mouth, and go that way..."

The officer then tells Drake, "You're on my sidewalk."

To which the teen, again showing he knows his rights, tells the officer, "This is not your sidewalk, it's public."

"Oh it's my sidewalk, trust me", the officer replies.

Then, in a classic example of the intimidation tactics, law enforcement officers use, the same officer threatens to charge another teen with disorderly conduct.

The teen also shows he knows his rights, and respectfully tells the officer that he has done nothing wrong.

The officer, realizing that he has been video recorded harassing minors, then seems to concede, and walks away with his fellow officer.

I asked Drake how does it make him feel that those who take an oath to serve and protect, instead harass innocent people.

"It makes me mad that I'm harassed in my own neighborhood for doing nothing wrong, and committing no crime", Drake said.

"It makes me feel like a target in my own community."


Click Play to watch video




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Rochester, NY Clergy Asks Police Chief James Sheppard to Resign, and Demand the Immediate Release of Pregnant Woman, Beaten on Video by RPD Cop Lucas Krull

By Davy V.

Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull,
getting ready to punch pregnant woman in head.

Tensions in Rochester, NY's African-American community continue to rise, just days after a disturbing video was posted to YouTube, showing Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull, driving 21-year old Brenda Hardaway, who says she's 5 months pregnant, into a wooden porch railing, then punching her n the head with a closed fist, before throwing her to the ground.

"Release her or they're going to see something they've never seen before", said the clergymen who held an 11:00 am press conference at Faith Temple Apostolic Church Friday.

The statement was in reference to Brenda Hardaway, who was remanded to the Monroe County Jail in lieu of $7,500.

Hardaway is being held on several charges including resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Her 16-year old brother, Geomeno Hardaway was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, and was released.

Meeting with other church leaders, Bishop Jerry McCullough said, “This has been happening in Rochester for quite a while and we’re appalled"

McCullough added, “We’re here to do something about it, we got lawyers, we got money, we're hiring people to help us.”

According to Rochester, NY police, Brenda Hardaway interfered with the arrest of her 16-year-old brother.

Not surprisingly, Mike Mazzeo, President of Rochester's Locust Club. the RPD's Union, just as Rochester Police Chief did hours earlier, defended the beating.

“All she had to do was put her hands behind her back and be handcuffed,” Mazzeo said, adding "The protocol is to use the amount of force necessary to make the arrest."

Mazzeo called RPD officer Lucas Krull's punch to Hardaway's head, "light force."

From left to right; Minister Florence, Al Sharpton.
and my Dad Mario Vara, before we marched
in downtown Rochester, NY 1991

As an activist against police misconduct, and corruption, I have been marching these same Rochester, NY streets since the mid 1980's, when I used to accompany my Dad, Mario Vara, a community activist against police abuse, and Al Sharpton, who was good friends with my Dad, along with the late Reverend Raymond Graves, a legendary Rochester civil rights leader, I personally saw all these great men, not only talk the talk, but walk the walk as well!

So, at the press conference I told the members of the clergy, that I've seen alot of press conferences, and news camera photo-ops.

But, I asked them, what would they do different this time?


Check out the video below of the press conference


 



Check out the video below of Rochester, NY Police officer Lucas Krull  beating pregnant woman






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