#Trump blasts Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Rochester mayor after mass PD resignation

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President Donald Trump and Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren (right)

EPA; AP

President Trump blasted Gov. Andrew Cuomo and and Rochester’s mayor on Tuesday after the upstate New York city’s top police brass announced their retirement amid protests over the death of Daniel Prude.

“Police Chief, and most of the police in Rochester, N.Y., have resigned,” Trump tweeted from Air Force One on his way to a rally in North Carolina.

“The Democrat Mayor and, of courses (sic), Governor Cuomo, have no idea what to do. New York State is a mess – No Money, High Taxes & Crime, Everyone Fleeing. November 3rd. We can fix it!” he added.

Chief La’Ron Singletary, a black man and 20-year veteran of the force, announced his retirement on Tuesday under heavy political pressure and raging protests over the death of Prude at the hands of police in March.

Deputy Chief Joseph Morabito, who served the department for 34 years, and Deputy Chief Mark Simmons are also stepping down, while Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren told council members that “the entire Rochester Police Department’s command staff has announced their retirement.

In a statement, Singletary blasted outside groups for trying to destroy his character and what he called “mischaracterization and the politicization of the actions that I took after being informed of Mr. Prude’s death.”

“As a man of integrity, I will not sit idly by while outside entities attempt to destroy my character,” the statement said.

“The events over the past week are an attempt to destroy my character and integrity,” Singletary added.

The mass resignation comes just days after Attorney General Letitia James announced she was forming a grand jury to investigate the Prude’s death which was ruled a homicide after police put a hood over his head and held him down.

Rochester has been rocked by escalating protests, with at least three cops injured and nine people arrested by Sunday after protesters set off commercial-grade fireworks and came prepared with protective gear like helmets.