Home ›› 04 Sep 2020 ›› World Biz
Seven US police officers have been suspended over the death of an unarmed black man who suffocated after being restrained.
Daniel Prude, who had mental health issues, died after being put in a "spit hood", which is meant to protect officers from detainees' saliva.
Announcing the suspension, Rochester's mayor, Lovely Warren, said systemic racism led to the death.
Mayor Warren said at a news conference on Thursday: "I am suspending the officers in question today against the council's advice, and I urge the attorney general to complete her investigation."
"Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental healthcare system, our society and, he was failed by me," she continued.
She added that his death was proof "many of the challenges that we faced in the past are the same challenges that we face today".
The mayor said city police chief La'Ron Singletary had failed to inform her of the case until the beginning of last month.
Prude died in March but his death has only just been reported.
The details only came to light on Wednesday after the police body camera video was released through a public records request.
Warren said what she saw in the video was "entirely different" from how the police chief initially presented the incident to her - as a drug overdose.
The 41-year-old died two months before George Floyd's killing, which sparked national and international protests against racism and police brutality. His arrest also bore similarities to Floyd's, as both were pinned to the ground by officers.
The move to suspend the seven officers is the first disciplinary action since Prude's death. Contract rules mean the officers will still be paid while on leave, according to city officials.
