The Rochester Police Department (RPD) has released disturbing body camera footage depicting officers restraining and pepper-spraying a distraught 9-year-old girl. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny of the department’s handling of mental health crises.
A still image from the released bodycam footage shows Rochester police officers at the scene.
The incident began with a report of “family trouble.” According to Deputy Police Chief Andre Anderson, the girl was experiencing a mental health crisis and expressed suicidal ideations, stating she wanted to harm herself and her mother. Nine officers and supervisors responded to the scene.
The bodycam videos capture the girl’s frantic cries for her father as officers attempt to restrain her. She resists being placed in a patrol car, kicking at the officers. The RPD, in a statement released Saturday, claimed this resistance “required” an officer to take her to the ground. They further stated that handcuffing the child and placing her in the back of the police car was “for the minor’s safety and at the request of the custodial parent on scene” while waiting for an ambulance.
Escalation and Use of Pepper Spray
The situation escalated when the girl, already handcuffed in the back of the police car, reportedly refused to put her feet inside the vehicle. According to the RPD, this prompted an officer to use an “irritant” on the child. At a Sunday news conference, Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan confirmed the irritant was pepper spray.
Chief Herriott-Sullivan expressed her disapproval of the officer’s actions, stating, “I’m not going to stand here and tell you that for a 9-year-old to have to be pepper-sprayed is OK. It’s not. I don’t see that as who we are as a department, and we’re going to do the work we have to do to ensure that these kinds of things don’t happen.”
The released bodycam footage captures the distressing encounter between Rochester police and the 9-year-old girl.
Community Outcry and Demands for Accountability
The incident has ignited public outcry and renewed calls for police reform, particularly concerning their interactions with individuals experiencing mental health crises. Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, prior to the release of the videos, expressed deep concern for the child. “I have a 10-year-old child, so she’s a child, she’s a baby. This video, as a mother, is not anything you want to see,” Warren stated.
This incident follows the death of Daniel Prude last year, another case involving the RPD that raised serious questions about their use of force and handling of individuals in distress. Prude died after officers placed a hood over his head and pressed his face into the pavement.
Examining Police Procedures and Training
The use of pepper spray on a handcuffed 9-year-old girl raises serious concerns about RPD training and protocols. Critics argue that the officers involved escalated the situation unnecessarily and failed to de-escalate the child’s distress. The incident highlights the need for improved training in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, particularly when dealing with children and individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. There are calls for an independent investigation into the incident and a review of RPD policies.
The Need for Alternative Responses to Mental Health Crises
This incident underscores the need for alternative responses to mental health crises. Many advocates argue that police officers are not adequately equipped to handle such situations and that mental health professionals should be at the forefront of these responses. This approach could involve creating specialized crisis intervention teams composed of mental health professionals and social workers who can provide on-scene support and connect individuals with appropriate resources.
Moving Forward: Reform and Accountability
The pepper-spraying of a 9-year-old girl in distress demands a thorough examination of police procedures, training, and accountability. The RPD must take concrete steps to address the systemic issues that led to this incident and ensure that such events do not occur in the future. The community’s call for reform and a more compassionate approach to mental health crises must be heard and acted upon. The focus should be on providing support and resources to those in need, rather than resorting to force and further traumatizing vulnerable individuals. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change within the RPD and the broader system of policing.
The girl was taken to Rochester General Hospital for evaluation and treatment and was later released to her family. The long-term effects of this traumatic experience on the child remain a concern.
A Call for Transparency and Justice
The release of the bodycam footage is a crucial step towards transparency and accountability. However, it is only the beginning. A thorough and impartial investigation is necessary to determine the appropriate course of action. The community demands justice for the child and a commitment from the RPD to meaningful and lasting reform. Only through such actions can trust be rebuilt and the safety and well-being of all Rochester residents be ensured.
