Former RPD chief Singletary expected to formally announce candidacy Thursday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary is poised to run for Congress from the Rochester area.

He has registered as a Republican candidate for New York’s 25th Congressional District.

The Monroe County Republican Party is promising its “big announcement” at 11 a.m. Thursday.

That’s the seat currently held by Democrat Joe Morelle.

Multiple sources told News10NBC that Singletary will formally announce his candidacy Thursday.

The former chief got an enthusiastic reception during election night celebrations Tuesday.

"Another one of our teammates has joined us, La’Ron Singletary,” exclaimed, Republican Party Chairman Bernie Iacovangelo, who singled out Singletary, promising big news, without saying what’s coming.

The former chief himself was coy as well.

"There’s going to be some opportunities, maybe in the future when things will be confirmed,” he said, “but I’m not confirming anything tonight."

But on the Federal Election Commission website, "La’Ron Desmond Singletary" is now listed as Republican candidate for New York’s 25th Congressional District, having filed on Monday. And his campaign website is up.

Singletary comes to the race next year, after turmoil last year.

He was fired by Mayor Lovely Warren as her administration faced protest over the death of Daniel Prude in police custody, and accusations of a cover-up.

On his website, Singletary’s platform promises strong support for public safety saying, "we cannot demonize, demoralize, nor defund our police departments and then turn around and ask for better policing."

He also advocates for the enforcement of immigration laws, gun rights, less regulations for businesses and more choices for healthcare and for parents seeking schools for their kids.

The Monroe County Democratic Party told News10NBC it won’t be commenting about next year’s race until it finishes work on this year’s, but the office of current Congressman Joe Morelle seems to be taking Singletary’s impending candidacy seriously.

The domain name registry reveals possible web addresses for a Singletary campaign like laronsingletary.com or singletaryforcongress.com have already been registered… by the Morelle campaign.

“Next year’s team,” Iacovangelo called from the podium on Tuesday night, “it’s going to be phenomenal. Wouldn’t you say Mr. Singletary?”

That brought loud applause.