BUFFALO, N.Y. — In Buffalo this summer, 39 lives have ended too soon, including that of 17-month-old Kyrie Johnson. He and his grandmother were gunned down on Grape Street in early July. They were not the intended targets.

It's something that hits too close to home for Mary Martin, who has two grandchildren.

"I'm scared for them to play outside because people are riding up and down the street and just shooting, jumping out and shooting. It's not safe for the kids to play anymore," said Martin.

That's why Buffalo city leaders and police have been getting creative in their efforts to stop the carnage. Tuesday, Buffalo Police Commissioner Byron Lockwood and Mayor Byron Brown decided to take their offices out in to the street.

"I don't think this has ever been done in a neighborhood before," Lockwood said.  

He moved all of his meetings for the day to Goodyear Avenue on Buffalo's east side and also met with neighbors to hear their concerns.

"It's a little tough to get downtown, find somewhere to park, to get in to see the commissioner, so the commissioner is here," Lockwood said. "It gives the people the chance to just come walk out the door and express their concerns. I think people will be able to say that the Buffalo Police Department, and the Mayor and the City of Buffalo care."

"This is an area where there have been some challenges, where there has been some drug activity and the police department has been here for over a month, just letting the community know that the officers care," Brown said.

Lockwood said building better relationships has been the biggest challenge but the piece of stopping the violence that's most crucial. 

"I've never seen too many commissioners come out and the commissioner we have now, he's been everywhere," Martin said.

James Carraway of Buffalo Peacemakers said "It shows unity, that they're concerned and that they're for the community."

Lockwood said bringing his office to the streets was a success and he's already looking at doing it again in another neighborhood.

"I'm beginning to see that citizens are calling in and cooperating with some of the crimes that are happening," said Lockwood.

Brown added, "I'm very pleased with the progress that's been made. But it's like any relationship. You have to continue to work at it. You have to continue to nurture it. You have to pay attention to it every single day."