Rochester, N.Y. – The Rochester Police Locust Club, the union representing officers, defended officers’ conduct during the arrest of Emily Good. President Mike Mazzeo said several officers have received threats.
Good was charged with obstructing governmental administration while videotaping a traffic stop in front of her house. She refused an officer’s request to go in her house. The officer said he didn’t feel safe. Good’s video went viral, setting off a nationwide controversy. On Monday, prosecutors dropped the charge, citing lack of evidence.
“I don’t think any of our officers are going to get hung up on what happens in court. We live by that,” said Mazzeo.
Mazzeo wanted to make several points during a news conference:
• He said there were three occupants of the vehicle stopped by police. Good and some witnesses say there was one suspect.
• Good allegedly said she was friends with the suspects, causing the officer concern.
• Good was not arrested for videotaping police, but for refusing for comply with the officer’s request to go inside. The officer felt she was too physically close to the him and the vehicle.
“Let’s see the unedited version of the video,” Mazzeo said. “Let’s remember the officers in that video, more than anything, showed professionalism, composure and gave simple and concise orders.”
Mazzeo said the public should not interfere with a police officer’s job.
“The number one concern that we all share, that nobody interferes in a situation that could cause one of our officers or a member of the community to get hurt or killed,” Mazzeo said. “It’s just too dangerous the job we do out there.”
Mazzeo said several officers have gotten threats via message boards and phone calls. He said someone drove by the house of the officer who arrested Good, yelling threats.
“We leave our families at in our homes at night to come out and do this job. And when these idiots put our addresses out there on the network – you know that just opens it up for some mental defective or someone else to pick up on it and that’s just wrong,” Mazzeo said.
The department’s internal affairs unit is investigating the arrest and the subsequent ticketing of cars of Good’s supporters.
