This weekend the Rochester Police Department is adding more foot and bike patrols. Interim RPD Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan was also out and about. She spoke exclusively about the effort to Spectrum News.
The policy changes rolling out from the chief of the Rochester Police Department are now going to be more noticeable, as officers take a targeted approach to crime prevention. Herriott-Sullivan, herself, could be found on a Rochester city street this weekend, as another phase in a series of new and revised policies is rolled out.
“What we’re going do is make sure citizens know what to expect," said Herriott-Sullivan.
This weekend, more RPD foot and bike patrols are on duty in targeted locations and there’s an increase in anti-violence details in the areas that see the most violent crime.
"So what we want to do is incorporate a process that doesn’t alienate or target citizens that are just going about their daily lives. We work very hard at doing that and I’m happy that this is a process that will incorporate that and we target the people who are causing a lot of the issues," said Herriott-Sullivan.
The effort is to improve policing by involving the community.
“We just want to be open and transparent but also communicate regularly and clearly so people understand,” the chief said.
At a time when anti-police sentiment is high in the city, what is the reaction among rank and file?
“A lot of the officers I know who are just people-oriented are going to be okay with it. There are people in the neighborhood they know and that’s going to continue,” the chief said.
Officer Giovanni Maldonado is among those walking the beat.
“When I’m on foot, I just pretty much make my presence known, I talk to the business owners, I talk to the normal folks I see out here all the time. I suggest to the normal drug users that I recognize, see how they’re doing, see if they need any assistance, anything like that," said Maldonado.
“The role we play, and by that I mean as command staff, for the captains, the commanders and all that, is to reiterate to people that this is the sort of thing that we want to see. When we go out there and do the best we can, you’re not going to get a problem from us. We want to encourage you to reach out to people to have those relationships, to make those connections," said Chief Herriott-Sullivan.
The plan is to build trust and partnerships within the community.
“I don’t know of a substitute for reaching out and connecting with people and maintaining that,” said the chief, who plans to announce more policy changes next week.