PATHWAYS TO BETTER POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN ROCHESTER (2004)
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From the "Summary" of PATHWAYS TO BETTER POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN ROCHESTER (2004):
In 2003 Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson, Jr. initiated a citizens’ effort to assess the status of police-community relations following several high-profile, controversial incidents in which individuals were fired upon and/or lost their lives during or following confrontations with Rochester Police Department (RPD) officers. The purpose was not to investigate or assign blame for these incidents, but to:
1. identify steps to reduce the likelihood of such incidents occurring again, and
2. make recommendations for ways to improve police- community relations throughout the city.
Mayor Johnson asked the Honorable Michael J. Miller, attorney and former Monroe County Family Court Judge, and the Rev. Lawrence Hargrave, Director of Alumni, Church and Community Relations at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, to head an independent citizen commission. At their request, the Mayor asked City Council to engage CGR (Center for Governmental Research Inc.), a nonprofit center for objective policy analysis and pragmatic change (www.cgr.org), to help conduct research and draft their report.
Pathways to Better Police-Community Relations in Rochester, the result of a year-long intensive effort, is our report. The recommendations it contains are extensive, and touch on every community group. Improving police-community relations isn’t about pointing fingers at others. It is about asking all of us to step up to the challenge – because we all have essential roles to play in creating meaningful change.
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There have been many positive developments which have significantly strengthened relationships between police and community over the past ten years, and there is a strong foundation of sound police-community relations which has been built under the leadership of Mayor Johnson and Chief Robert Duffy, and their commitment to the community’s public safety.
Despite these recent improvements, changes are needed. Simply maintaining the status quo is not an acceptable option for Rochester. The question for community leaders and organizations, and for each of us as involved public citizens, is this: do we have the political and community will and commitment to implement the significant changes needed to ensure better police-community relations? Our hope is that this report can build on the solid foundation that exists, as we seek to build bridges that create common ground and mutual trust, respect and understanding. The ultimate goals are to reduce conflicts, provide greater public safety, and improve the quality of life throughout Rochester’s different communities.
We recognize some of our recommendations are controversial, others difficult to negotiate, some require substantial time and effort to implement, and others call for a reordering of current priorities. However, all are important and worthy of serious consideration. They are our recommendations and more, for they draw substantially upon the recommendations of many community members.
The report is based on confidential interviews with more than 100 individuals; extensive literature searches and follow-up phone conversations about practices, programs and policies in 15 other communities; a multi-year review of internal affairs and citizen review procedures in Rochester; and review of other resources, including:
• The 1976 report of the Citizens Committee on Police Affairs (“Crimi Report”), the last major police-community report;
• The federal Consent Decree impacting police hiring in Rochester;
• Pertinent RPD general orders, manuals, training documents, and contracts;
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Confidential discussions were held with more than 100 individuals – government officials; RPD personnel; representatives of public safety and criminal justice systems, and nonprofit service and advocacy agencies; members of the faith community; neighborhood association leaders; attorneys; educators and private citizens.
Overview of Perceptions
• Information related to the sweeping RPD reorganization plan implemented mid-2004.
Both the challenge and the opportunity of this project involve capitalizing on recent positive directions and channeling the community’s efforts—those of the larger community as well as of the law enforcement sector—to build on and improve the very real strengths that currently exist in police-community relations, while at the same time developing new solutions to recalcitrant problems.
Read the full report above.
