A look back at RPD Chief Singletary’s career after retirement announcement

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — When La’Ron Singletary was appointed chief last year at age 38, he became one of the youngest chiefs in the department’s history.

Just 17 months later, under intense pressure, Singletary is out, saying he is the victim of character assassination.

News10NBC’s Brett Davidsen took a look at his time with the department.

Mayor Lovely Warren: "It’s my distinct honor to announce that I have appointed Deputy Chief La’Ron Singletary as the next Chief of Police for the Rochester Police Department."

Singletary wiped tears from his eyes as he was announced chief of the Rochester Police Department in April 2019.

Singletary: "As you can tell, these are tears of joy."

Born and raised in Rochester, he had been auditioning for this job his entire life.

A graduate of John Marshall High School, he graduated from Monroe Community College and Keuka College with degrees in criminal justice and law enforcement administration.

He then got his masters in public administration from SUNY Brockport.

Singletary: "I will do everything as police chief to honor the faith that comes and the rank-and-file places in a police chief."

In his 20 years, Singletary rose through the ranks, from neighborhood patrol and crime prevention officer to public information officer, command officer and then deputy chief.

At his appointment, Singletary promised to bridge the divide between the community and police.

Singletary: "I think there’s a lot of animosity and tension in the air, and I hope to be the one to kind of bring that together."

But the opposite has happened.

In March, Daniel Prude died in the hospital seven days after being detained by Rochester police officers.

Information on the incident did not come to light until just last week in the way of body-worn camera video released by Prude’s family’s attorney.

It set off a week of protests with organizers demanding he and the mayor resign.

The mayor then held a news conference Thursday announcing she had not been properly briefed on Prude’s death and reprimanded Singletary for not providing what she says were accurate details.

In his resignation letter, Singletary said he would not sit idly by while outside entities attempted to destroy his character.

Click here for full coverage on the death of Daniel Prude.