Union Boss Defends Suspended Rochester Officers Who Pepper-Sprayed 9-Year-Old Girl
A union boss is defending suspended Rochester Police Officers who pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl as they responded to a 911 call on Friday (Jan. 29). The leader, Rochester Police Locust Club president Mike Mazzeo, claims, “it’s not a simple situation.” Bodycam footage of the lengthy and horrific encounter shows an officer trying to bring the girl back to her home, but she soon becomes increasingly agitated as her mother yells at her.
In the clip, the girl falls to the ground and an officer drags her to a patrol car, with her repeatedly shouting, “I want my dad.” Shortly after, one cop is heard saying, “Just spray her at this point.” With the girl handcuffed behind her back, the officer trying to detain her withdraws his spray and has at it until she yells, ‘Please wipe my eyes. Wipe my eyes, please.” The girl was eventually taken to a hospital and later released. On Monday (Feb. 1), the officers involved were suspended with full pay as per state civil service law. Their names have yet to be released.
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While viewers are left outraged at the encounter, Mazzeo says, “It’s not a simple situation. I’m not saying there’s no better ways to do things, but let’s be realistic here on what we’re facing. It’s not TV. It’s not Hollywood. We don’t have a simple, be able to put our hands and have someone instantly handcuffed.” Police and city officials are currently looking further into the incident.
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