Rochester Police Chief Michael Ciminelli is being questioned about his whereabouts following a string of violence in the month of June.

“I have no idea what he looks like. Seriously I`ve never seen him,” said LaShawn Hampton, co-owner of Gravitte's Soul Food Kitchen.

Hampton owns a business on Skuse Street, right next to where a homicide happened over the weekend. 

“I want him to be more involved. The homicide that happened affected us as a business," said Hampton. "With everything that has been going on, I think it`s very important that he interact with the community, because we need him.” 

Michael Ciminelli was appointed to the position by Mayor Lovely Warren in 2014. According to the RPD chief, he sees things differently.

“Because you don`t have a camera there doesn’t mean I`m not out there. I go to many community meetings. I go out on patrol, said Ciminelli.  I will always be available, and if anybody has concerns I would love to hear it because I`m always out there.” 

“The visibility of a chief of police in community of color is very essential," said Reverend Lewis Stewart of the United Christian Leadership Ministry.

“If you are the chief of the entire city and we the people here asking you to keep us safe, we should know your face as well. You should be able to walk around and people know who you are,” said Rochester resident Christian Bennett.

Chief Ciminelli says the department is starting a community affairs bureau soon to improve relationships in the city.