Ithaca's Reimagining Public Safety initiative is an ongoing reform effort for a city of roughly 30,000, and the nation is watching. 

While the Ithaca Police Department is on board for change, they say they don't feel as though their concerns are being heard. 

“The police officers here have been leaning into change for decades. We haven't always gotten it right. We are imperfect people doing a job for a community that demands the very best service,” said Sgt. Thomas Condzella of the IPD, who also serves as leader of the Police Benevolent Association.

From the time their shifts start, Condzella said the police officers are under the microscope, and among the eyes scrutinizing their actions, their very own Operation Sgt. David Amaro.

“I was fortunate enough to be hired by the ethical police department where there was a culture of training,” Amaro said. “That was pretty impressive right out of the gate.”

Amaro has gained some national recognition for his expertise in reality-based training now that helps give officers what he calls "conscious competence."

“We see faster, better decisions, and we also see them avoiding officer-created jeopardy,” said Amaro.

As discussions for new solutions continue, the topic of community-based resources has raised some concerns within the department, according to Amaro, who said he's concerned about sending unarmed and potentially underprepared community solution staff into dangerous situations.

“There's a desire for all of us to work perfectly and to have some sort of flowchart. The unfortunate truth is, things don't always work that way,” Amaro added.

Condzella was part of early conversations into those matters, but that's where he says official IPD involvement stopped.

“They've answered questions to community members, but no, there has not been any kind of continuing dialogue with stakeholders who are going to be providing the services, public safety services to the city of Ithica, whatever this final plan may be,” he said.

Condzella said that IPD embraces change, as long as safety remains the top priority.

“There are things in this plan that could be useful. We want to be part of that conversation and it needs to be a real conversation,” said Condzella.

On this day, he took a trip to Investigator Michael Padula's grave. He was stabbed in the neck helping respond to a 911 call back in 1996.

“We should really reflect on his sacrifice when we're having these discussions and remember that our community has already lost a public servant to this type of some of these situations,” Condzella said.

It’s a reminder that a plan on paper can have real world consequences.

“Even with the best training and with the equipment and with the best skills,” Condzella added. “Police officers don't always make it home. We all want the same thing, which is a safe Ithaca.”