Rochester-area lawmakers introduce package of police reform bills

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Rochester-area members of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly introduced a package of legislation aimed to alter police responses to people in crisis.

It includes a ban on spit-hoods, a bill called Daniel’s Law, which would create statewide mental health units, and a ban on the use of chemical irritants on minors.

A spit hood was used on Daniel Prude during an incident with police in March 2020. He was not breathing and had no pulse after he was restrained and handcuffed by officers. He died seven days later in the hospital after being taken off life support. Daniel’s Law is named after him.

Another bill would require that police live in the cities where they work, an idea Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and the Rochester City Council voiced support for earlier this year, but acknowledged would require a state law.

Many of those changes stem from the report released Tuesday by the New York State Attorney General after she announced the grand jury’s decision not to indict the officers involved in the death of Daniel Prude.