Former RPD Chief La'Ron Singletary announces run for Congress targeting seat held by Joe Morelle

Brian Sharp, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read
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Former Rochester Police Chief La'Ron Singletary formally announced a run for Congress on Thursday morning.

Singletary registered his campaign committee on Tuesday, records show, and has a website ready to go, raising donations, calling for volunteers, outlining a conservative platform and targeting the seat currently held by Rep. Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit.

Morelle is up for re-election in 2022.

Singletary lives in Henrietta and is a recently enrolled Republican, having voted as a Democrat as recent as the 2020 general election.

"La’Ron has a passion for servant leadership and is eager to reform systems that have been plaguing our residents," the website states. "Empowering our families with school choice, improving our educational system, and expanding business opportunities to help our residents thrive. That is why La’Ron is running for Congress in New York’s 25th Congressional District."

Rochester Police Chief Le'Ron Singletary speaks with the media about the death of Daniel Prude in this file photo from 2020.
Rochester Police Chief Le'Ron Singletary speaks with the media about the death of Daniel Prude in this file photo from 2020.

Singletary had a 20-year career with the Rochester Police Department, appointed police chief in April 2019 by Mayor Lovely Warren. He announced his retirement last fall, then was fired, amid what became a very public, very disparaging back-and-forth with Warren over the city's handling of Daniel Prude case.

Prude was in the midst of a mental health crisis when he was restrained by police and later died. His death was paattributed to asphyxiation. And the city kept it from the public for months. Singletary has maintained that he and the officers acted appropriately. The state cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing, but one since has been brought up on internal disciplinary charges.

Both Warren and Singletary have alleged the other lied about what they knew, or sought to conceal the truth.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Contact reporter Brian Sharp at bdsharp@gannett.com or at 585-258-2275. Follow him on Twitter @sharproc. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: La'Ron Singletary announces run for Congress against Joe Morelle