A Rochester City Court judge on Tuesday found RPD officer Michael Sippel guilty of third degree assault, which is a misdemeanor.
The ruling came in a ‘bench trial,’ which is decided by a judge, and not a jury.
The Democrat and Chronicle reports that Judge Thomas Rainbow Morse found Sippel guilty in connection with the May 2018 incident when the District Attorney’s office said Sippel allegedly assaulted Christopher Pate on Bloss Street, after Sippel and his partner, officer Spenser McAvoy approached Pate while they were looking for a burglary suspect. The incident was later said to be a case of mistaken identity
Pate suffered facial injuries. A grand jury did not indict McAvoy.
Sippel had pleaded not guilty to charges of misdemeanor assault. He's been suspended with pay for the past few months.
Sippel will be sentenced on July 25.
Mayor Lovely Warren issued a statement saying that the verdict “sends a clear message that the City of Rochester and our Police Department does not, and will not, ever look the other way when our officers act inappropriately. Any allegations of misconduct will be fully investigated and, if necessary, prosecuted.”
She also said that, “the Rochester Police Department remains committed to building trust and respect with the community it serves. The actions that led to this trial are a reminder that we must rededicate ourselves to this goal. “
Rochester Interim Police Chief La'Ron Singletary released this statement:
“As Interim Chief, I respect the decision of the court. As Interim Chief, I am also limited as to what I can comment on in relation to the outcome of the criminal court case, as there are internal departmental proceedings involving Michael Sippel in which I am responsible for rendering the final disposition. With respect to the court’s decision, the internal departmental proceeding will resume as it had prior to the criminal court case commencing, during which Michael Sippel will remain on suspension from the Rochester Police Department."
The Rochester Police Locust Club, which is the police union, had this statement:
“We are shocked and disappointed in the decision out of City Court today. However, since the internal disciplinary process is still ongoing and there are potential appeals of the criminal charges, we are going to refrain from any further statements on the matter to protect the rights of Officer Sippel.”
