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RPD officer suspended after missing child call

Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan
greecepolice.org
Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan

The Rochester Police Department has suspended an officer with pay after a call about a missing child early last Friday morning.

Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan says officers responded to a call early last Friday morning to a home on Sherri Ann Lane in Greece and found several intoxicated, uncooperative people at the residence.

After it was determined police were called about a missing child, a neighbor produced a video which showed the child leaving the party with his father, identified by police as RPD investigator Jeff McEntee.

The child was later found at his home alone, but safe.

Phelan says McEntee, like other the people at the party, was difficult and did not help police.

"He was not cooperative, very difficult to deal with," he said.

Phelan says they're trying to determine how the child got home, but the McEntee family has been uncooperative.

"There was no arrest made because we have no probable cause to arrest anyone for anything. Now we're continuing to look at a few things and we'll review the matter with the DA's office and if we determine that there is probable cause for an arrest, we'll make it," he said.

Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli
Credit www.cityofrochester.gov
Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli

Rochester Police Chief Mike Ciminelli says the matter has been referred to Professional Standards Section.

"That triggers a process which will enable us to conduct a full review of everything that happened to determine if there's a violation of our policies and procedures which should result in discipline," he said.

Ciminelli adds police officers are required to obey all laws, and in their off-duty conduct they must not act in a manner which discredits the department.

Phelan calls McEntee's suspension with pay "appropriate," but whether McEntee's behavior was criminal is still to be determined.