A decision was rendered regarding motions filed at the conclusion of the Benny Warr civil trial against Rochester Police Department officers who assaulted Mr. Warr. United States Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson issued her decision on July 22 regarding the plaintiff’s motions to set aside the verdict, grant a new trial, and impose sanctions against the defense counsel, City of Rochester attorney Spencer Ash, for misconduct. The judge has not dismissed the motions meaning that they are still on the table. This is the first public communication from the judge since the end of Mr. Warr's civil trial.
In her decision and order, Judge Payson specifies that the “application is premised on two grounds: first, that defendants’ counsel [Spencer Ash, the City of Rochester attorney representing the Rochester Police Department (RPD) and its officers] engaged in deliberate misconduct prejudicial to plaintiffs’ right to a fair trial; and, second that the jury’s verdict awarding no compensatory or punitive damages was inconsistent and against the weight of the evidence.” The seven-page document elucidates the issues raised in court papers pertaining to both points. The judge does acknowledge in her order and decision that such issues did arise during the trial, but without supporting documentation examining the entirety of the trial, she could not properly rule on the motions.
Therefore, she ordered the plaintiff’s attorney, Charles Burkwit, to “supplement their post-trial motion with an amended affidavit and memorandum of law supported by specific citations to the trial record and accompanied by the trial transcript.” Mr. Burkwit has until September 20 to file the appropriate supporting documentation.
This morning, May 28, 2019, Judge Thomas Rainbow Morse found Rochester Police Department officer Michael Sippel "guilty of Assault in the Third Degree."
Below is an email sent out by the Rochester Police Locust Club criticisizing the push for the passage of the Rochester Police Accountability Board. The email was sent on March 15, 2019.
A press release for a press conference from the Police Accountability Board Alliance after being told by Council members that the legislation released in January would be amended.
On May 2, 2019, shortly before a 24 hour vigil was scheduled holding those impacted by police violence in Rochester, NY and calling on City Council to release their amendments to the legislation released in January, the Police Accountability Board Alliance held a press conference to make their demands heard.
On May 6, 2019, Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott sent amendments for review by the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the United Christian Leadership Ministry, and the Police Accountability Board Alliance.
Here's the full statement from Rochester City Council President Loretta Scott, read at the meeting before the vote was taken, Tuesday, May 21, 2019.
Today is a momentous day, one that I will remember as the highlight of my tenure as President of the Rochester City Council. Tonight the Council has unanimously passed legislation that moves our City toward the establishment of a transparent, independent, and community supported Police Accountability Board.
Below is a press statement from the Police Accountability Board Aliance that was released shortly before the City Council session began where the legislation was passed unanimously into law.
The Rochester Police Accountability Board legislation was passed unanimously on May 21, 2019 by Rochester City Council. The PDF below is the transmission letter for the legislation and the actual legislation.
A small crowd gathered despite rain May 1 2019 in Washington Square park to support the New York Health Act. As we have reported before, the proposed law would establish a universal single payer health system across New York State. The act has passed the Assembly four times and will likely pass the now-Democratic controlled Senate this year. http://rochester.indymedia.org/node/147839
Below is a PDF of the Managing Criminal Investigations Manual from the Rochester Police Department. The City of Rochester released it in 2016 after a Freedom of Information Law request was fulfilled.
From the Introduction:
The Preliminary Investigation Manual is a police officer's guide for conducting effective initial or preliminary criminal investigations. It attempts to place in their proper perspectives the options available to the investigating officer so that the total time spent in investigstive activities will be minimum and results maximum.
The Jail Bureau of the Monroe County Sheriff's Office runs the downtown Rochester jail, the jail facility in Brighton and the forensic unit at the Rochester Psychiatric Center. The Jail Bureau General Orders (JBGO) are the directives they operate under.
This document is the result of a Freedom of Information Law request to the County of Monroe in August 2018. The following records were received in February 2019, but the most recent update of any of the orders contained within is March 2018.
After a judge's ruling and an appeal from a second request for body worn camera footage from May 5, 2018, the city of Rochester finally releases an appropriately redacted video.
The world faces a multitude of problems ranging from pollution to energy shortages and health deficits. This presentation by Christopher Snyder explored the uses of mushrooms for a practice known as mycoremediation. Through this method, it may become possible to restore the health of our ecosystems and ourselves along with them.
The even happened on March 31, 2019 at the Flying Squirrel Community Space (FSCS) (285 Clarissa St.). The letcure was a part of the FSCS's programming theme of Environment for March and April.
Christopher Snyder grew up on a hobby farm in Darien New York. While completing a Masters in Bioinformatics at the Rochester Institute of Technology he developed interests in dancing, philosophy, and community organizing. Christopher now lives in downtown Rochester and volunteers with the Flying Squirrel community space.
The FSCS exists to "provide a welcoming space that will cultivate and sustain long lasing relationships between activists, artists, and community members in Rochester so that we may work together to create positive social change."
About 40 local demonstrators gathered in front of Rochester's Federal Building on April 4 2019. The rally was in solidarity with similar demonstrations nationwide and in front of the White House. Its purpose was to demand that the full report on Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian influence in the 2016 election be turned over to Congress in its entirety. Speaking was Jen Lunsford, the Democratic challenger to NY State Senator Richard Funke in district 55.
As islands of discarded plastic larger than the entire state of Hawail float about on our oceans, could mushrooms be the solution to eliminating it and possibly proding a source of food and medicine in the process? Some researchers are beginning to think so. Christopher Snyder of the University of Rochester gives a talk on how Mycoremidiation, as the science is known, might help us clean up our planet.
Rochester Indymedia is now requiring editor approval for account creation.
We came to this decision after we had repeated spam posted to our website that caused difficulty with the website's functioning. We will still have open publishing and keep our site as nonrestrictive and accessible as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. As before, we will continue to be Rochester's grassroots news and education site. Thank you for your continued support and remember, "Don't hate the media, be the media!"
Editorial Meeting Times / Locations
The Rochester Independent Media Center (R-IMC) is no longer meeting regularly. We will set up meetings by necessity and appointment. Please contact us at rochesterindymedia@rocus.org. Our home is still the Flying Squirrel Community Space at 285 Clarissa St. Occasionally, we hold meetings at RCTV located at 21 Gorham Street.
