Rochester Police, the Monroe County Sheriff's office and many suburban police departments are directing officers not to make an arrest under the county's new anti-first-responder harassment law until it passes a judicial review. County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo signed the new law this week saying she wanted to support first responders.
The action by police agencies led County Officials to hold a news conference, with Spokesman Jesse Sleezer saying County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo did talk the law the over with police agency officials before it was passed. He says Dinolfo felt the agencies were supportive of the new law's intent, and that the bill's legislative sponsor brought it to the Monroe County Law Enforcement Council before it was voted on.
But Rochester Police and the Monroe County Sheriff's office are directing officers not to make an arrest under the county's new anti-first-responder harassment law until it passes a judicial review. Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary is telling his officers not to enforce the new law -- at least for now. He says in a memo to his officers he was advised by the city's lawyers to hold off until the courts can rule on the legality of the law. And he says in the memo that the officers can still make arrests under existing laws when violent or criminal behavior is directed at them.
In a similar letter, Sheriff Todd Baxter said there are existing laws to accomplish the same goal, as when members of the Rush Fire Department and Ambulance were attacked earlier this year by two people they were trying to help. Baxter says his decision can be revisited if the new law is validated by judicial review.