The actions of Rochester Police Officers involved in a controversial arrest are being defended by the Rochester police union.

It was all caught on cell phone video, taken by a passerby earlier this month on Hollenbeck Street.

In the video, the officer tackles the woman from behind. Police were arresting the woman’s boyfriend at the time for a separate incident.

While the union addressed the cell phone video – they’re also taking issue with a potential body camera issue.

Union president Mike Mazzeo was adamant that the cell phone video did not tell the full story, and claimed that the woman in the video struck the police officer in the face as he approaches her from behind.

“That’s why it’s crucial on these videos to have the information before you comment,” Mazzeo said. “Video is the one thing where, what your eyes see, does not necessarily mean it’s the truth.”

Mazzeo says he’s seen the cell phone video and body camera footage, but says the cell phone video is not the whole picture – and adds that body cameras are flawed as well.

“Only 30 cameras are out there,” he said. “And out of those thirty cameras, they’re not working effectively. Period.”

He says the officers involved have been receiving death threats since the video went viral, but says the officer in the video did nothing wrong in his opinion.

“What he was doing was attempting to stop her, and he basically got pulled along with her, falling towards her,” said Mazzeo.



As for whether or not body camera footage would help clear up the incident, he says it may provide some context – but because of ineffective cameras, it doesn’t tell the whole story.

“When he went to assist in the hand-cuffing of that female, as soon as he had contact with her, something caused that camera to deactivate,” said Mazzeo.

Mazzeo said that the malfunctioning cameras can make it appear as if officers are turning them off purposefully, when in fact, he claims, the cameras are faulty.

Mazzeo handed out a list of demands that the police union has for the city, which includes no additional body cameras until they’ve been thoroughly reviewed, a dedicated unit to analyze the body camera video, and additional training for all police officers who are wearing them.

In response to the allegations that one of the officers referred to Parker as an “animal,” Mazzeo said it was taken out of context.

He says the officer did say that to her, but not to her face – but it was caught on camera after the officers were back in the car.