The Last Chance for Change protesters who have filled Syracuse streets in the days after George Floyd's death in Minneapolis have a list of demands to improve the Syracuse Police Department.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said he’s open to discussion. The police union’s president has some warnings.

“I’m really impressed by the protesters,” said Walsh. “The young people who are coming out making their voices heard. Every chance I’ve gotten, I want them to know I hear them, and I’m looking forward to working with them to continue the work we’ve been doing over the past two and a half years to improve police-community relations and police accountability.”

One of their main demands that Walsh supports was repealing 50-a, which makes police records private. Both houses of the state legislature passed that Tuesday night.

“The more transparent and open we can be with information we have, the more trust we can build,” said Walsh. “When you don’t share information, it suggests to people you have something to hide.”

However, Syracuse Police Benevolent Association President Jeff Piedmonte said the law protects officers, and revoking it could threaten their reputation and jobs.

“There has to be some balance," said Piedmonte. "If there’s just going to be allegations, every time someone runs into Officer Piedmonte, make a complaint against him. 'He said something,' 'he looked at me funny,' whatever. In 10 weeks, I could have 10 complaints against me. It’s an orchestrated effort to attack the officer.”

The protesters also want the Citizen Review Board (CRB) to have more power to investigate and discipline.

Walsh said the current arbitration method to discipline is not ideal, and they’re trying to change it "into a process that involves much more transparency and open public hearings for discipline,” said Walsh. "That process doesn’t involve the CRB, but we see the CRB as an important partner that can make sure that process and those involved is held accountable.”

“I think it’s ridiculous that a group of people who don’t have any idea of what we do for a living are going to make a decision for what we should do,” said Piedmonte. “The ones that we use have been arbitrators for well over 25 years, and they render their decisions. I thought it was a fair process to have.”

Protesters want it to be fair inside the courtroom and out on the streets. They suggest passing the “Syracuse Right to Know Act,” where officers identify themselves and inform a motorist why the driver is being stopped, but Piedmonte said that’s already in effect.

Walsh said there is a request from the Common Council to pass a “Right to Know” legislation in Syracuse that is modeled after the New York City legislation. He hasn’t had a chance to review it yet, but based of what he knows, he backs it.  

“Just ensuring that officers are being clear with their communication with individuals in the public when they’re engaging with them,” said Walsh. “As much as we can standardize the ways in which the community and police officers engage with each other, the easier it will be to evaluate those engagements.”

The protesters also want to alter the use-of-force policy, so officers shoot to disarm rather than kill.

“We’re only pulling a gun if we feel that it’s a threat to us or another person,” said Piedmonte.

Walsh said he’s proud of the recently enacted use-of-force policy.

“We always aspire to live up to best practices,” said Walsh. “So, this current process is giving us the opportunity to reexamine our use-of-force policy again, just a year after we updated it, to make sure we’re in full compliance with best practices.”

The protesters aren’t in favor of defunding the police, but they would like to see more money going to local youth programs.Walsh said he has no interest in abolishing the police or taking money away from the department.

Walsh said he’s ready for a dialogue with the protesters, and his door is always open.