La'Ron Singletary | |
|---|---|
 Singletary in 2019 | |
| Chief of theRochester Police Department | |
| In office July 1, 2019 – September 8, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Simmons (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 or 1980 (age 45–46) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Republican (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 2021) |
| Education | Monroe Community College Keuka College (BA) State University of New York, Brockport (MPA) |
La'Ron Singletary (born 1979/1980)[1] is an American law enforcement official who was active in theRochester Police Department, serving as the chief of the department from July 2019 to September 2020. He resigned after disputes with thenRochesterMayorLovely Warren in the aftermath of thekilling of Daniel Prude. Formerly a Democrat, he ran for congress to representNew York's 25th congressional district in2022 as aRepublican, losing to Democratic incumbentJoseph Morelle.
Singletary grew up in the 19th Ward neighborhood ofRochester, and wanted to become a police officer from a young age. He became aPolice Explorer at 14 and graduated from John Marshall High School. He then went on to attendMonroe Community College, graduated fromKeuka College, and then received aMaster of Public Administration fromSUNY Brockport.[2]
Singletary joined the Rochester police force in 2000, and was sworn in byRobert Duffy. He became deputy chief of the department in January 2018, and became chief in July 2019.[2]
While Singletary was police chief,Daniel Prude was killed in police custody in 2020. Prude was under the influence ofAngel Dust and was walking the city streets naked before being physically restrained by the police. The incident gained nationwide attention, and after public pressure and a city council investigation that determined that MayorLovely Warren and Singletary concealed critical details about Prude's death from the public and lied about their knowledge of the case,[3] Singletary and all other members of the Rochester Police Department command staff resigned.[4] Later, a jury would not indict any of the officers involved.[5]
In December 2020, Singletary accused Rochester mayor Lovely Warren of pressuring him to lie about the series of events following the death of Daniel Prude and firing him after he refused. Warren subsequently argued that Singletary downplayed the circumstances surrounding Prude's death.[6] He later filed a successful lawsuit against the city asking for medical benefits promised to employees who work in the department for more than 20 years.[5]
Formerly aDemocrat, Singletary joined theRepublican Party in 2021.[7]
In November 2021, Singletary announced that he was running for theU.S. House to representNew York's 25th district in2022. He was encouraged to run by formerstate SenatorJoseph Robach.[7]
Singletary lives inHenrietta, New York.[8]