ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A hearing is expected to take place next month for Mayor Malik Evans' choice of the new permanent chief of the Rochester City Police Department. And there will be a full City Council vote to officially confirm Chief David Smith.

He’s already assuming the duties after filling in as interim chief since October.

Smith is settling into his office on the 6th floor of the Public Safety Building, already moving forward with some of his long-term goals.

"We do need to rebuild the department's relationship with the community and we need to rebuild the department's credibility," Smith said.

Asked what he thinks his biggest obstacle is going to be, Smith answers, "Well, everyone wants to change immediately, and we all know these changes take time and patience. And especially now in the middle of summer, with the violence that's going on, I mean, everyone is frustrated. We are too."

To tackle the increase in violent crime, he says his team will continue in its most recent direction of utilizing evidenced based policing.

"We're really continuing to focus on drilling down on individual problems, solving them, and then moving on instead of just doing a blanket where we'll put a whole bunch of cops in the area," he explained. "But we have to move forward with balance, with purpose, with determination and with clear goals in mind."

The leader of the RPD has already laid the groundwork for many of his goals, including improving police-community relations.

"I think that is one of the keys to rebuilding the trust in the community is, we need to be transparent, good or bad, about what is going on," he said — and that includes working with the Police Accountability Board. "Everything needs to be examined and looked at and then we move forward with the process. But I look forward to the PAB being able to review cases."

Allegations of police misconduct are a major contributor to the trust and relationship problems between the community and the police.

"It is important to have many perspectives on these things because they're serious,” he said. “You're talking about decisions that affect someone's career. Someone's life. But also, conversely, affect our relationship with the community on any given day.”

In regards to how much power or decision-making ability he will have, Chief Smith says, "The mayor and I have a great relationship and I have to say ,even as interim chief, he has given me a great deal of latitude. You know, we talk a lot, but ultimately, all of the decisions and all the responsibility has been on me and I anticipate will continue to be that way moving forward."

Smith even admits he was not initially interested in the position.

"Quite honestly, I was, like so much of the department, I was just tired,” he said. “We've actually been through a lot, but after having had an opportunity to sit in the seat and make some changes, which again, I'm grateful that the mayor gave me the latitude as interim chief, to act as I saw fit. It was like a breath of fresh air. It was reinvigorating.”

A man moving toward retirement is now on a change of course.

"My wife and I talked and we're in it for as long as the mayor needs us. Because we're in it together,” said Smith. “I am very excited to be here. I feel like I have a lot more gas left in the tank, more to give and I'm glad to have this opportunity. And I hope that we can get things going and moving forward because I'm certainly looking forward to it.”