Senator Samra Brouk Statement on Video Showing Rochester Police Pepper Spraying Nine Year Old Girl

Rochester, NY - Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55), Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, released the following statement in response to the release today of a video showing the violent treatment of a child by the Rochester Police Department on January 29, 2021.

“There is absolutely no excuse for this. A nine year old girl in crisis was yelled at, handcuffed, pepper-sprayed and told to "stop acting like a child." She is a child. She needed comfort and help, not more violence,” said Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55). “This provides yet another heartbreaking example of how and why law enforcement, as it is currently managed, is absolutely not equipped to appropriately respond to individuals in a moment of crisis. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, I will continue to advocate for legislative, regulatory and budget items that will reform our system of policing to better serve our communities. We must do better, and we must do better now.”