During a news conference on Tuesday in New York City, Governor Andrew Cuomo talked briefly about the case involving Daniel Prude. He’s the 41 year old man who died a week after being held in police custody in Rochester last March. The case came to light last week when police bodycam video was released.
State Attorney General Letitia James said on Saturday that she would empanel a grand jury to help with the state’s investigation.
The AG’s office already was looking into the case, under a state law which requires the attorney general to look into a case where an unarmed person dies in police custody.
Cuomo was asked at the Tuesday news conference about the fact it took six months for James to empanel the grand jury.
"When it came to light, last week or whenever it was, that video, which I thought was horrific, I called on the Attorney General to expedite her actions in compliance with the law and she’s empaneled a grand jury,” Cuomo said.
The governor said that among the questions that need to be answered is how the investigation was first handled by Rochester Police, in terms of how long it took the public to learn about the police involvement in Prude's death.
Later on Tuesday, it was announced that top commandersin the Rochester Police Department including Chief La'Ron Singletary were retiring.
