Police officials voice frustration with laws limiting ability to detain repeat offenders

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Law enforcement officials in Rochester are voicing frustration with current laws that they say limit their ability to immediately detain repeat offenders — even in serious cases involving violence or injury.

This frustration came to a head after a crash late Wednesday night involving a Rochester police officer and a parolee previously convicted of first-degree manslaughter.

RPD: Officer seriously injured after Mt. Read crash, parolee charged

According to investigators, 33-year-old Ira Willis was allegedly driving a Chevy Equinox southbound on Mount Read Boulevard when he ran a red light and collided with a police cruiser at the intersection with Lexington Avenue. The officer’s cruiser then struck a utility pole.

The officer was hospitalized with injuries that RPD initially described as non-life-threatening, but later confirmed to be serious…

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